DIARY  OF  A  TAR   HEEL 


CONFEDERATE  SOU 


irn 


L.  LEON 


C  97078 
LS7d 


/ 


STEPHEN  B.  WEEKS 

CLASS  OF  1886;  PH.D.  THE  JOHNS  HOPKINS  UNIVERSITY 


OF   THE 

raivERSinnr  of  »mi  cam™ 

TIE  WEEKS  OMiJECniON 


C  .97o.7S 
L57d  *■*> 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


00023514136 


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L.   LEON 


Diary  of 
A  Tar  Heel  Confederate  Soldier 


By  L.  LEON 


Stone  Publishing  Company 

Charlotte,  N.  C. 


Copyright,   1913 
by  L.  LEON 


PREFACE 

This  diary  was  commenced  for  the  fun  of  writing 
down  my  experience  as  a  soldier  from  the  Old  North 
State.  I  never  thought  for  a  moment  that  I  would 
put  it  in  print;  but  now  that  I  am  getting  old  and 
have  read  so  many  histories  written  by  our  officers, 
but  have  never  seen  in  print  a  history  written  by  a 
private. 

I  know  that  my  diary  is  truly  the  life  of  the  man 
behind  the  gun,  therefore  I  make  bold  to  publish  it. 
I  am  sure  my  experience  was  that  of  other  privates, 
and  a  true  history  of  my  companies  and  regiments,  as 
well  as  the  Brigade,  Division,  and  even  Corp  that  I 
belonged  to.  I  am  certain  that  the  men  of  '61  to 
'65  who  read  this  will  recall  most  vividly  the  camp- 
ing, marching,  fighting  and  suffering  they  endured 
in  those  never-to-be-forgotten  days  of  long  ago.  And 
to  the  younger  generation  of  Southern-born  it  will 
show  how  we  endured  and  suffered,  but  still  fought  on 
for  the  cause  we  know  was  right. 

L.  Leon. 


CHAPTER   I 

The  Beginning 

April  25,  1861 — I  belong  to  the  Charlotte  Grays, 
Company  C,  First  North  Carolina  Regiment.  We 
left  home  for  Raleigh.  Our  company  is  commanded 
by  Capt.  Egbert  Ross.  We  are  all  boys  between  the 
ages  of  eighteen  and  twenty-one.  We  offered  our 
services  to  Governor  Ellis,  but  were  afraid  he  would 
not  take  us,  as  we  are  so  young;  but  before  we  were 
called  out  our  company  was  ordered  to  go  to  the 
United  States  Mint  in  our  town  and  take  same.  We 
marched  down  to  it,  and  it  was  surrendered  to  us. 
We  guarded  it  several  days,  when  we  were  ordered 
to  Raleigh,  and  left  on  the  above  date. 

Our  trip  was  full  of  joy  and  pleasure,  for  at  every 
station  where  our  train  stopped  the  ladies  showered 
us  with  flowers  and  Godspeed.  We  marched  to  the 
Fair  Grounds.  The  streets  were  lined  with  people, 
cheering  us.  When  we  got  there  our  company  was 
given  quarters,  and,  lo  and  behold!  horse  stables  with 
straw  for  bedding  is  what  we  got.  I  know  we  all 
thought  it  a  disgrace  for  us  to  sleep  in  such  places 
with  our  fine  uniforms — not  even  a  washstand,  or  any 
place  to  hang  our  clothes  on.  They  didn't  even  give 
us  a  looking-glass. 

[  1   ] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

Our  company  was  put  in  the  First  North  Carolina 
Regiment,  commanded  by  Col.  D.  H.  Hill,  Lieut- 
Col.  C.  C.  Lee,  and  Maj.  James  H.  Lane. 

We  enlisted  for  six  months.  Our  State  went  out 
of  the  Union  on  May  20th,  and  we  were  sent  to  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  on  the  21st.  Stayed  there  several  days, 
when  we  were  ordered  to  Yorktown,  Va.  Here  they 
gave  us  tents  to  sleep  in.  This  looked  more  like  sol- 
dering, but  we  would  have  liked  to  have  had  some 
of  that  straw  in  Raleigh. 

The  day  after  we  got  here  our  company  was  sent 
out  with  spades  and  shovels  to  make  breastworks — 
and  to  think  of  the  indignity !  We  were  expected  to 
do  the  digging!  Why,  of  course,  I  never  thought 
that  this  was  work  for  soldiers  to  do,  but  we  had  to 
do  it.  Gee!  What  hands  I  had  after  a  few  days' 
work.  I  know  I  never  had  a  pick  or  a  shovel  in  my 
hand  to  work  with  in  my  life. 

A  few  days  after  that  a  squad  of  us  were  sent  out 
to  cut  down  trees,  and,  by  George !  they  gave  me  an 
axe  and  told  me  to  go  to  work.  Well,  I  cut  all  over 
my  tree  until  the  lieutenant  commanding,  seeing  how 
nice  I  was  marking  it,  asked  me  what  I  had  done  be- 
fore I  became  a  soldier.  I  told  him  I  was  a  clerk  in 
a  dry-goods  store.  He  said  he  thought  so  from  the 
way  I  was  cutting  timber.  He  relieved  me — but  what 
insults  are  put  on  us  who  came  to  fight  the  Yankees ! 
Why,  he  gave  me  two  buckets  and  told  me  to  carry 
water  to  the  men  that  could  cut. 

We  changed  camp  several  times,  until  about  the 
[  2  ] 


Confederate  Soldier 

3d  of  June,  when  we  marched  fifteen  miles  and  halted 
at  Bethel  Church,  and  again  commenced  making 
breastworks.  Our  rations  did  not  suit  us.  We  wanted 
a  change  of  diet,  but  there  were  strict  orders  from 
Col.  D.  H.  Hill  that  we  should  not  go  out  foraging. 
Well,  Bill  Stone,  Alie  Todd  and  myself  put  on  our 
knapsacks  and  went  to  the  creek  to  wash  our  clothes, 
but  when  we  got  there  we  forgot  to  wash.  We  took 
a  good  long  walk  away  from  the  camp,  and  saw  sev- 
eral shoats.  We  ran  one  down,  held  it  so  it  could 
not  squeal,  then  killed  it,  cut  it  in  small  pieces,  put  it 
in  our  knapsacks,  returned  to  the  creek,  and  from  there 
to  camp,  where  we  shared  it  with  the  boys.  It  tasted 
good. 

Our  comrade  Ernheart  did  not  fare  so  well.  He 
went  to  a  place  where  he  knew  he  could  get  some 
honey.  He  got  it  all  right,  but  he  got  the  bees,  also. 
His  face  and  hands  were  a  sight  when  he  got  the 
beehive  to  camp. 

June  10 — At  three  o'clock  this  morning  the  long 
roll  woke  us  up.  We  fell  in  line,  marched  about  five 
miles,  then  counter-marched,  as  the  Yankees  were  ad- 
vancing on  us.  We  got  to  our  breastworks  a  short 
time  before  the  Yankees  came,  and  firing  commenced. 
We  gave  them  a  good  reception  with  shot  and  shell. 
The  fight  lasted  about  four  hours.  Our  company  was 
behind  the  works  that  held  the  line  where  the  ma- 
jor of  the  Yankee  regiment,  Winthrop,  was  killed. 
After  he  fell  our  company  was  ordered  to  the  church, 
but  was  soon  sent  back  to  its  former  position.  This 
[   3   ] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

is  the  first  land  battle  of  the  war,  and  we  certainly 
gave  them  a  good  beating,  but  we  lost  one  of  our 
regiment,  Henry  Wyatt,  who  was  killed  while  gal- 
lantly doing  a  volunteer  duty.  Seven  of  our  men 
were  wounded.  The  Yankees  must  have  lost  at  least 
two  hundred  men  in  killed  and  wounded.  It  was  their 
boast  that  they  could  whip  us  with  corn-stalks,  but  to 
their  sorrow  they  found  that  we  could  do  some  fight- 
ing, too.  After  the  fight  some  of  the  boys  and  my- 
self went  over  the  battlefield,  and  we  saw  several  of 
the  Yankee  dead — the  first  I  had  ever  seen,  and  it 
made  me  shudder.  I  am  now  in  a  school  where  sights 
like  this  should  not  worry  me  long. 

Our  commander  in  this  fight  was  Col.  Bankhead 
Magruder.  The  Yankee  commander  was  Gen.  B.  F. 
Butler. 

From  now  on  I  will  never  again  grumble  about 
digging  breastworks.  If  it  had  not  been  for  them 
many  of  us  would  not  be  here  now.  We  returned 
the  same  night  to  Yorktown,  full  of  glory. 

On  July  1 8  we  heard  that  our  boys  had  again 
whipped  the  Yankees  at  Bull  Run. 

Also,  on  July  21,  again  at  Manassas. 

We  changed  camp  a  number  of  times,  made  forti- 
fications all  around  Yorktown,  and  when  our  six 
months  were  over  we  were  disbanded,  and  returned 
home.     So  my  experience  as  a  soldier  was  over. 

I  stayed  home  five  months,  when  I  again  took  arms 
for  the  Old  North  State,  and  joined  a  company  raised 
by  Capt.  Harvev  White,  of  Charlotte,  and  left  our 
[  4  ] 


Confederate  Soldier 

home  on  April  23,  1862,  at  6.30  P.M.  I  stayed  in 
Salisbury  until  next  night,  when  I,  with  several  oth- 
ers, took  the  train  for  Raleigh,  where  our  company 
was.  We  went  to  the  insane  asylum  to  see  Lang- 
freid,  who  wanted  to  go  home  by  telegraph  to  see  his 
cotton  and  tobacco.  After  spending  most  of  our  day 
in  town  we  went  to  camp  four  miles  from  Raleigh. 
We  stopped  a  carriage,  and  the  driver  said  he  would 
take  us  to  camp  for  three  dollars.  We  halved  it  with 
him  and  he  drove  us  there.  We  reported  to  Captain 
White,  and  he  showed  us  to  our  hut.  We  were  sur- 
prised to  find  it  without  a  floor,  roof  half  off  and 
■"holey"  all  over.  We  commenced  repairing,  and  went 
to  the  woods  to  chop  a  pole  for  a  part  of  the  bedstead. 
We  walked  about  a  mile  before  we  found  one  to  suit 
us.  It  was  a  hard  job  to  get  it  to  our  hut.  We  put  it 
up  and  put  boards  across  and  then  put  our  bedding  on 
It,  which  consisted  of  leaves  we  gathered  in  the  woods. 
And  now  it  is  a  bed  fit  for  a  king  or  a  Confederate 
soldier. 

It  commenced  raining  at  dark,  which  compelled  us 
to  cover  with  our  oilcloth  coats.  We  did  not  get 
wet,  but  passed  a  bad  night,  as  I  had  gotten  used  to 
a  civilian's  life  again. 

May  31 — Up  to  date  nothing  transpired  worth  re- 
lating, but  this  morning  got  orders  to  leave.  Left  at 
6  A.M.  Our  company  got  passenger  cars,  and  the 
balance  of  our  regiment  had  to  take  box  cars. 

June  1 — Arrived  at  Weldon,  North  Carolina,  at  7 
o'clock.  We  set  up  our  tents  at  Gerresburg,  a  short 
[  5  ] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

march  from  Weldon.  Our  company  is  close  to  the 
railroad  track.  We  collected  broom  straw  and  made 
a  bed  of  down  of  it. 

June  2 — We  received  some  visitors  from  home. 

June  3 — Raining  all  day,  but  have  a  good  time  with 
the  ladies  in  this  neighborhood.  They  treated  my 
comrade  and  myself  only  as  Southern  ladies  know 
how  to  treat  their  soldiers — with  respect  and  some- 
thing good  to  eat. 

June  4 — Still  raining,  and  the  roads  are  very 
muddy. 

June  5 — We  were  marched  to  town  and  received  our 
arms — Springfield  muskets.  Next  day  went  off  very 
quietly. 

June  7 — At  u  o'clock  to-night  we  were  roused  out 
of  our  sleep  and  marched  to  Weldon  Bridge,  as  the 
river  was  so  swift  that  it  was  thought  the  bridge 
would  wash  away.  We  went  there  to  knock  the  sides 
off,  so  that  the  water  could  run  over  it,  but  we  got 
there  without  tools.  When  they  came  the  water  was 
receding,  so  we  returned  to  camp. 

June  8 — I  am  very  tired  from  our  first  night's 
march. 

June  20 — Up  until  ^this  date  there  has  been  noth- 
ing worth  recording,  but  to-day  got  orders  to  fall  in 
line  with  two  days'  rations  cooked.  Left  at  12  M.  in 
box  cars.  We  knocked  holes  in  them  to  get  fresh 
air.  We  laid  over  six  hours  eight  miles  from  Gerres- 
burg  in  order  to  let  the  passenger  cars  pass  us.  Several 
of  our  company  left  the  train  in  quest  of  supper.  We 
[  6  ] 


Confederate  Soldier 

found  a  house  where  a  lady  promised  to  give  us  sup- 
per for  fifty  cents  each.  As  we  were  doing  full  jus- 
tice to  her  supper  the  train  started,  we  left  in  a  hurry, 
and  did  not  have  time  to  pay  for  our  meal.  I  don't 
suppose  she  gave  us  her  blessing. 

June  21—  We  reached  Petersburg,  Va.,  this  morn- 
ing at  half-past  two,  and  had  barely  laid  down  with 
a  brick  wall  for  my  pillow  when  breakfast  was  an- 
nounced in  the  shape  of  Mack  Sample,  who  told  us 
where  we  could  get  it.  I  ran  the  blockade  with  Katz, 
and  went  to  see  Mike  Etlinger.  He  was  not  at  home. 
Afterward  we  met  Wortheim,  and  we  all  went  again 
and  got  something  good  to  eat.  We  then  returned 
to  our  regiment,  which  is  the  53d  North  Carolina 
Regiment,  infantry,  Col.  William  Owens,  comman- 
der. We  are  enlisted  for  three  years,  or  the  war.  We 
fell  in  line  and  marched  to  our  camp,  which  is  on 
Dunn's  Hill,  just  outside  of  the  city. 

June  22 — Nothing  new. 

June  23 — Moved  our  camp  two  miles  up  the  road 
toward  Richmond.  It  is  a  very  bad  camp — low 
ground  and  muddy.  But  there  is  a  factory  here,  and 
plenty  of  girls  to  make  up  for  the  damp  ground. 

June  24 — We  had  a  drill  to-day,  and  went  to  town 
to  see  some  friends. 

June  25 — Reported  fighting  near  Richmond. 

June  26 — We  received  marching  orders  this  morn- 
ing. The  long  roll  beat  at  one  in  the  night.  We 
marched  four  miles  on  to  Richmond,  where  we  met 
some  wounded  of  our  army  that  had  been  injured  at 
[  7  ] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

the  Point  of  Rocks.  We  got  to  this  place  after 
marching  all  night,  too  late  for  the  Yanks — they  had 
gone.  We  stayed  here  until  the  28th,  then  marched 
to  Drewry's  Bluff,  twenty  miles  from  Petersburg. 

June  29 — Arrived  at  Drewry's  Bluff  this  morning. 
Here  we  met  our  brigade,  commanded  by  General 
Daniels.  The  brigade  has  five  regiments,  all  North 
Carolina  troops,  composed  of  the  43d,  53d,  32d,  45th 
and  the  2d  North  Carolina  battalions.  When  we  got 
to  our  brigade  we  were  left  at  Drewry's  Bluff  and 
the  brigade  marched  on  to  Richmond,  and  we  stayed 
here  until  the  30th. 

June  30 — Heard  firing  at  Richmond.  We  are  eight 
miles  from  there,  and  in  reserve. 

July  1 — There  is  nothing  new,  only  we  can  see  the 
lines  of  battle  over  the  river.  They  are  still  fighting 
around  Richmond. 

July  4 — This  is  the  day  the  Yankee  general,  Mc- 
Clellan,  promised  to  eat  dinner  in  our  capitol.  He 
did  not,  but  numbers  of  his  command  did — that  is,  in 
our  prisons.     But  they  did  not  get  any  turkey. 

July  6 — We  got  orders  to  march  this  morning. 
Left  here  with  two  days'  rations  of  corn  meal  and 
bacon  in  our  haversacks.  We  got  to  Petersburg  in 
the  evening — fifteen  miles — after  a  hard  march.  It  is 
very  warm,  and  we  did  not  rest  on  the  way,  as  it  was 
a  forced  march.     We  camped  on  Dunn's  Hill. 

July  7 — We  return  to  our  factory  girls  again — all 
O.  K.,  you  bet. 

July  27 — Had  a  few  friends  visit  us  from  home,  and 
C  8  ] 


Confederate  Soldier 

moved  camp  twice.  To-night  we  were  ordered  to 
fall  in  line.  Went  to  Petersburg,  and  there  took  the 
cars  for  Weldon.  On  the  road  a  dreadful  accident  oc- 
curred. On  the  flat  car  that  we  were  on,  a  captain  of 
the  navy  with  us  had  his  leg  cut  off  by  a  sheet  of  iron 
flying  off  the  flat.  Lieutenant  McMatthews,  Henry 
Wortheim  and  myself  were  knocked  down,  but  not 
badly  hurt.     The  captain  died  two  days  after. 

July  31— Up  to  this  time  there  is  nothing  new.  We 
are  camped  at  Weldon. 

August  1 — From  date  to  the  4th — nothing.  We 
have  a  good  camp. 

August  5 — We  received  marching  orders  to-day. 
We  embarked  on  the  train  at  Weldon,  went  down  the 
Seaboard  road  a  distance  of  twenty-five  miles,  and 
marched  from  there  to  Roberts'  Chapel.  Our  com- 
pany and  Company  D  were  the  only  ones  that  went. 
We  got  there  at  10  o'clock  at  night  and  laid  in  the 
woods  until  morning. 

August  6 — We  fell  in  line  and  returned.  We 
marched  to  Boykins  and  took  the  cars  to  our  regi- 
ment again.  This  expedition  was  to  capture  Yankees 
that  are  stealing  negroes.  When  we  got  there  they 
had  left. 

Up  to  August  19 — Nothing  new.  We  have  a  very 
good  time  here  by  ourselves — get  plenty  to  eat  from 
the  ladies  and  visit  them  whenever  we  can  get  out 
of  camp. 

August  20 — Left  here  at  6  P.M.  and  arrived  at 
Petersburg  at  3  o'clock  in  the  morning.     Took  the 

EM 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

same  bed  that  I  had  the  last  time — the  sidewalk — and 
the  wall  for  my  pillow.  Katz,  Hugh  Sample,  "Bat" 
Harry,  Lieutenant  Belk  and  some  others  were  left 
behind,  sick. 

August  21 — Left  at  4  A.M.  and  arrived  in  Rich- 
mond at  6  P.M.  Marched  to  Camp  Lee,  two  miles 
from  the  city,  and  put  up  any  tent  we  could  get  hold 
of,  as  it  was  raining  very  hard  and  too  dark  to  see. 
We  are  all  O.  K.  now. 

August  22 — Sam  Oppenheim,  of  the  44th  North 
Carolina  Regiment,  an  old  comrade  of  the  1st  North 
Carolina  Regiment,  came  to  see  me.  He  is  stationed 
on  the  other  side  of  the  city. 

August  23 — Went  uptown  to  see  my  brother,  Mor- 
ris, of  the  44th  Georgia  Regiment ;  but  his  regiment 
had  already  gone  to  Gordonsville,  so  I  returned  to 
camp. 

August  26— Up  to  date  did  not  get  half  enough  to 
eat. 

August  27 — Three  of  our  companies  got  Enfield 
rifles  to-day. 

August  28 — Ordered  to  Drewry's  Bluff.  We  left 
Richmond  at  8  P.M.  and  got  there  at  2  A.M.  We  are 
camping  on  the  old  oat  patch,  near  our  former  camp. 

August  29 — Lieutenant  Belk,  whom  we  left  at  Wel- 
don,  sick,  returned  to  us  to-day. 

August  30 — Our  company  went  to  work  to-day 
throwing  up  breastworks. 

August  31 — Still  digging  dirt. 

September  1 — Wortheim  and  myself  went  to  Half- 
[10] 


Confederate  Soldier 

way  Station,  to  get  a  box  that  was  sent  to  us  from 
home,  but  it  did  not  come. 

September  9 — Up  to  to-day  nothing  new.  Our  reg- 
iment was  paid  off  to-day,  we  receiving  one  month's 
wages — eleven  dollars  for  a  private,  which  I  have  the 
honor  to  be. 

September  18 — Nothing  new,  only  plenty  of  bad 
weather  and  hard  work.  We  received  marching  orders 
at  9  A.M.  We  arrived  in  Petersburg  at  5  P.M. 
Saw  several  friends  there.  Left  Petersburg  at  8 
o'clock  that  night  in  cars  for  Wakefield.  Arrived 
there  at  11  A.M. 

September  19 — Left  Wakefield  at  9  P.M.  and 
marched  twenty  miles — laid  in  the  woods  without  shel- 
ter and  it  raining  very  hard.  Therefore  did  not  need 
to  wash  myself  in  the  morning. 

September  20 — Resumed  our  march  at  6  o'clock  this 
morning.  Arrived  at  Blacks  Church  after  three  hours' 
march,  then  turned  about  and  tramped  nine  miles  and 
camped  for  the  night  at  Joyner's  Church. 

September  21 — Left  here  at  6  P.M.,  marched  nine 
miles,  and  halted  for  dinner.  Our  company  being 
rear  guard  of  the  brigade,  we  had  a  hard  time  of  it, 
as  the  roads  are  very  muddy  and  we  had  to  keep  up 
all  the  stragglers.  We  reached  Wakefield  at  5  A.M., 
and  laid  in  the  woods  and  mud  for  the  night. 

September  22 — We  laid  here  all  day.  Cars  came 
for  us  from  Petersburg  to-night  and  took  us  back. 
Got  there  at  12  at  night,  marched  one  mile  and  camped 
for  the  night. 

[11] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

September  23 — Left  here  this  morning  at  10  o'clock 
and  got  to  our  old  camp  at  4  o'clock  this  evening. 
This  expedition  was  to  strengthen  Longstreet's  forces 
near  Suffolk.  We  got  there  after  he  was  relieved 
and  the  siege  of  Suffolk  abandoned. 

September  27 — Up  to  to-day  nothing  new,  only  to- 
day is  my  New  Year  (the  Jewish  New  Year). 

October — This  month  passed  off  with  nothing  new, 
except  Katz  returned  on  the  7th,  and  Donau  was  dis- 
charged.    We  are  still  on  our  old  camp. 

November  5 — There  is  nothing  for  me  to  write. 
To-day  Wortheim  and  myself  went  to  Petersburg  to 
get  a  box  that  was  sent  from  home,  and  while  there 
we  had  a  very  good  time. 

November  6 — We  commenced  to  put  up  winter 
quarters  to-day.    It  is  very  cold  and  sleeting. 

November  7 — It  commenced  to  snow  this  morning 
at  6  o'clock,  and  continued  until  one  in  the  after- 
noon. It  is  three  inches  deep.  We  got  some  whiskey 
into  camp,  which  tasted  very  good  and  made  us  for- 
get the  cold.  The  balance  of  this  month  passed  off 
very  quietly.    We  are  hard  at  work  on  our  winter  huts. 

December  1  and  2 — We  moved  into  our  winter 
quarters.  They  are  very  good  and  strong.  There  are 
ten  men  in  each  hut. 

December  3 — Katz  and  myself  went  to  Petersburg 
to-day.  We  met  with  friends,  and  the  consequence 
you  can  imagine.  The  headache  we  had  next  day 
was  caused  by  too  much  whiskey. 

December  8 — My  birthday  to-day.  I  am  a  mart 
[  12  ] 


Confederate  Soldier 

twenty-one  years  old,  but  I  must  say  that  I  have  been 
doing  a  man's  duty  before  I  was  twenty-one,  provid- 
ing a  soldier's  duty  is  a  man's.  I  spent  to-day  in 
bringing  mud  to  our  palace  for  a  fireplace. 

December  13 — There  was  nothing  to  record  up  to 
the  13th,  but  to-day  had  division  review  from  9  A.M. 
until  5  P.M. 

December  14 — Rumored  that  we  will  leave  Virginia 
for  North  Carolina. 

December  15 — Sure  enough.  Got  orders  to  cook 
five  days'  rations.  We  started  at  2  A.M.  and  got  to 
Petersburg  at  8  o'clock  that  night.  I  ran  the  block- 
ade, and  went  uptown  and  stayed  all  night  and  had 
a  very  good  time. 

December  16 — I  returned  this  morning  and  was  not 
missed.  We  left  here  with  the  cars  at  8  A.M.,  and 
got  to  Weldon  at  3  P.M.  on  the  17th. 

December  17 — Laid  in  an  old  field  until  8  P.M.,  and 
suffered  a  great  deal  from  cold.  We  left  here  on  flat 
cars  and  rode  all  night  on  them.  We  arrived  at 
Goldsboro  at  10  A.M.  on  the  18th.  The  ladies  on  the 
road,  especially  those  at  Wilson,  were  very  kind  to 
us.  They  gave  us  plenty  to  eat,  which  we  were  very 
much  in  need  of. 

December  18 — We  marched  through  town  and  lay 
all  night  in  an  open  field  without  tents.  It  is  cer- 
tainly bitter  cold.  The  only  fires  we  could  make  were 
from  the  fence  rails,  as  the  woods  were  too  far  for  us 
to  get  to. 

December  19 — We  got  away  from  the  open  field  at 
[13] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

12  M.,  and  went  two  miles  out  of  town,  and  camped 
in  the  woods.  We  met  the  Bethel  regiment  to-day. 
I  met  quite  a  number  of  old  friends  and  comrades  of 
my  old  company.  We  compared  notes  on  soldiering. 
We  came  to  the  conclusion  that  at  Yorktown  we  were 
playing  soldier,  but  now  there  is  no  play  in  it.  We 
are  expecting  a  fight  every  hour. 

December  20 — Went  uptown  to-day  on  French 
leave,  and  when  I  returned  was  put  on  guard  duty 
for  going. 

December  21 — I  went  to  the  creek  to  wash  my 
clothing  and  myself,  and  when  I  got  back  the  water 
had  frozen  on  my  head  so  that  I  was  obliged  to  hold 
my  head  by  the  fire  so  as  to  thaw  it  out.  Wortheim's 
eye»  are  so  bad  that  he  can  hardly  see.  Sam  Wilson 
broke  his  shoulder  blade. 

December  25. — There  is  nothing  new  up  to  to-day, 
Christmas.  We  moved  our  camp  a  little  piece.  Eigen- 
brun  came  to  see  us  to-day  from  home,  and  brought 
me  a  splendid  cake  from  Miss  Clara  Phile.  This  is 
certainly  a  hard  Christmas  for  us — bitter  cold,  rain- 
ing and  snowing  all  the  time,  and  we  have  no  tents. 
The  only  shelter  we  have  is  a  blanket  spread  over  a 
few  poles,  and  gather  leaves  and  put  them  in  that 
shelter  for  a  bed. 

December  26 — I  got  vaccinated  to-day  by  Capt. 
Harvey  White.  It  was  raining  very  hard,  and  we  all 
are  as  wet  as  dish  rags. 

December  31 — All  is  quiet  up  to  to-day,  the  last  of 
the  year.     It  is  still  very  cold. 
[14] 


MONUMENT  TO  HENRY  WYATT 

The  first  Confederate  Soldier  killed  in  battle 


CHAPTER   II 

The  Year  1863 

January  1 — This  month  we  have  done  nothing  but 
move  our  camp  once,  and  drill.  Had  to  send  all  our 
baggage  away.  Hereafter  nothing  more  will  be 
hauled  for  us  in  wagons.  There  are  rumors  flying 
about  that  we  will  soon  leave  here. 

February  1  and  2 — There  is  nothing  new,  but  cold, 
cold,  cold. 

February  4 — This  morning,  at  4  o'clock,  we  were 
waked  up  by  the  pleasant  sound  of  long  roll.  We 
were  ordered  to  get  ready  to  march.  It  is  very  cold, 
snow  nine  inches  deep.  We  laid  in  Goldsboro  until 
noon,  expecting  to  get  cars  to  take  us  away,  but  were 
then  told  we  would  have  to  march  to  Kinston.  We 
took  up  our  line  of  march  at  3  in  the  evening  and 
halted  at  dark.  It  is  truly  awful.  The  snow  is  very 
deep  and  as  cold  as  thunder.  We  marched  eight 
miles  without  resting.  We  then  fixed  our  bed  in  the 
snow  and  stole  fodder  for  a  bed  and  rails  to  make 
fire.  We  took  snow,  put  it  in  our  kettles,  and  made 
coffee.  When  I  say  coffee,  I  mean  Confederate  cof- 
fee— parched  corn — that  is  our  coffee.  Ate  our  corn 
bread  and  bacon  and  retired  to  our  couches  and  slept 
as  good  if  not  better  than  Abe  Lincoln. 
[  15  ] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

February  5 — Resumed  our  promenade  at  7  this 
morning,  and  for  a  change  it  is  raining  hard.  There- 
fore the  snow  is  melting.  Consequently,  the  roads  are 
nice  and  soft.  Halted  at  3  this  evening — still  rain- 
ing. We  made  ourselves  as  comfortable  as  possible — 
made  a  good  fire  to  dry  ourselves  by,  but  the  worst  of 
it  is  we  have  no  rations,  and  the  wagons  are  behind. 
We  went  to  sleep  in  our  wet  clothing,  with  a  cup  of 
coffee  as  our  supper.    It  rained  and  snowed  all  night. 

February  6 — Nothing  to  eat  yet.  Wortheim,  W. 
Eagle  and  myself  went  out  foraging,  to  buy  some- 
thing to  eat.  We  got  to  one  house  and  there  was  no 
one  at  home,  but  in  the  yard  there  were  two  chickens, 
which  we  captured,  for  we  were  afraid  they  would 
bite  us.  We  went  to  the  next  house  and  ate  our 
breakfast.  One  of  the  ladies  asked  us  where  we  got 
those  chickens.  I  told  her  that  we  bought  them  at 
the  house  before  we  got  there.  She  told  us  she  lived 
there  and  that  there  was  nobody  at  home.  I  then  told 
her  the  truth,  paid  her  for  them  and  left.  The  next 
house  we  got  to  we  bought  a  ham,  a  peck  of  meal,  a 
peck  of  sweet  potatoes  and  some  turnips.  We  took 
dinner  in  this  house.  We  then  returned  to  camp.  We 
had  a  good  reception  from  our  mess,  as  they  had  still 
nothing  to  eat. 

February  7 — We  could  not  march  yesterday,  as  the 
streams  were  too  high  from  the  recent  rains  and  snow. 
We  left  to-day  at  12  M.,  and  got  one  day's  rations, 
hard  enough  to  fell  a  bull.  Marched  on  the  railroad 
track  all  the  afternoon.  The  main  road  was  impas- 
[  16  ] 


Confederate  Soldier 

sable.  We  got  to  Kinston  at  4  in  the  afternoon,  and 
made  camp  in  a  swamp,  two  and  a  half  miles  out  of 
town.  We  had  nothing  to  eat,  but  slept  good  for  all 
that. 

February  8 — Wortheim  and  myself  went  uptown  to 
get  something  to  eat.  We  got  corn  bread  and  bacon. 
On  our  road  back  to  camp  we  bought  four  more 
dodgers  of  corn  bread  and  gave  it  to  our  mess  com- 
panions who  did  not  go  uptown.  Our  regiment  moved 
on  the  other  side  of  town  in  an  old  pine  thicket. 

February  9 — We  established  a  regular  camp  here. 
This  last  march  has  been  a  very  hard  one,  and  only  a 
distance  of  thirty  miles.  But  it  took  us  from  Wednes- 
day to  Saturday,  through  snow,  rain  and  mud  ankle- 
deep  and  without  rations.  Kinston  is  a  perfect  ruin, 
as  the  Yankees  have  destroyed  everything  they  could 
barely  touch,  but  it  must  at  one  time  have  been  a  very 
pretty  town — but  now  nothing  scarcely  but  chimneys 
are  left  to  show  how  the  Yankees  are  trying  to  recon- 
struct the  Union. 

February  13 — Nothing  new.  We  have  been  fixing 
our  camps.  Our  company  has  built  log  huts,  from 
two  to  three  feet  high,  and  then  put  our  tents  over 
them — building  a  chimney  to  each  hut  or  tent,  and  we 
are  very  comfortable.  We  got  orders  to  cook  two 
days'  rations,  and  be  ready  to  march  in  two  hours,  but 
did  not  have  to  go — in  fact,  nothing  new  until  the 
25th. 

February  25 — Henry  Wortheim  was  sent  home  on  a 
sick  furlough,  as  he  is  very  bad  off. 
[17] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

February  26 — Two  men  out  of  our  regiment  were 
whipped  for  desertion.  They  were  undressed  all  but 
pants  and  shoes,  tied  to  a  post,  and  each  given  thirty- 
nine  lashes  on  their  bare  backs.  The  balance  of  this 
month  nothing  new,  only  very  cold. 

March  5 — Up  to  to-day  there  is  nothing  worth  re- 
cording, although  we  are  getting  black  as  negroes  on 
account  of  our  burning  green  pine. 

March  6 — Several  of  us  out  of  our  company  went 
to  Kinston  and  the  battlefield.  The  Yankees  are  very 
poorly  buried,  as  we  saw  several  heads,  hands  and 
feet  sticking  out  of  the  ground,  where  the  rain  had 
washed  the  dirt  off  of  them. 

March  12 — We  have  had  orders  several  times  for 
the  last  six  days  to  march,  and  a  part  of  our  brigade 
has  had  a  fight.  But  this  morning  we  took  up  our 
march  at  5  o'clock.  I  saw  Gen.  D.  H.  Hill  on  the 
road  and  spoke  to  him,  as  well  as  his  adjutant.  They 
are  friends  from  home  and  comrades  of  our  first 
North  Carolina  regiment.  We  marched  twenty  miles 
and  halted  for  the  night — laid  in  line  of  battle  all 
night  with  arms  by  our  side. 

March  13 — Resumed  our  march  at  8  this  morning, 
got  eight  miles,  when  we  got  to  our  extreme  picket 
posts.  They  told  us  the  Yankees  were  one  mile  and 
a  quarter  from  us.  Then  we  marched  half  a  mile 
further,  when  our  artillery  commenced  the  fight.  It 
kept  on  all  day,  but  very  light.  We  drove  in  their 
pickets  and  advanced  our  line  until  dark.  We  are 
eight  miles  from  Newbern — marched  eleven  miles. 
[18] 


Confederate  Soldier 

March  14 — This  morning,  at  daybreak,  cannonading 
was  heard  by  us  from  General  Pettigrew's  line,  which 
is  on  our  left  flank.  We  immediately  fell  into  line  of 
battle,  our  artillery  opened  fire,  then  we  infantry  ad- 
vanced our  line  on  the  Yankees.  We  halted  in  an 
old  field  and  had  for  a  breastwork  a  rail  fence.  We 
fought  for  four  hours — hot  at  times.  We  had  a  num- 
ber killed  and  wounded.  The  enemy  fell  back  on  their 
stronghold — Newbern.  This  battle  is  called  the  Bat- 
tle of  Deep  Gully,  as  it  was  fought  on  that  stream. 
We  then  took  up  our  march  again  for  Kinston.  We 
got  eleven  miles  and  halted  for  the  night.  Our  com- 
pany was  the  rear  guard  of  the  brigade. 

March  15 — Laid  here  all  day,  with  two  crackers  for 
our  rations,  and  these  we  got  at  night. 

March  16 — A  picket  came  in  this  morning  and  re- 
ported the  enemy  advancing.  We  were  put  in  line  of 
battle  to  receive  them,  and  after  marching  one  mile 
up  the  road  to  get  to  our  brigade  we  were  put  at  the 
extreme  left  of  our  line,  and  made  breastworks  out  of 
rotten  logs.  Stayed  here  one  hour,  when  another 
picket  came  and  reported  them  ten  miles  away.  So 
we  resumed  our  march  for  camp  and  got  there  at  7 
o'clock — twenty-one  miles  to-day.  Tom  Notter, 
Aaron  Katz  and  myself  pressed  into  service  to-day  a 
donkey  and  a  cart  with  a  negro,  who  took  us  to  Kin- 
ston. Each  of  us  drove  at  times,  and  I  was  fortu- 
nate enough  to  stall  in  a  mudhole.  We  had  to  get  out 
and  lift  the  cart  and  donkey  to  dry  ground  again. 
Thus  ends  the  march  and  fight  at  Deep  Gully. 

[  19  ] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

March  20 — Katz  went  home  to-day  on  a  furlough. 
Nothing  new  up  to  the  23d. 

March  23 — We  had  a  man  whipped  to-day  in  our 
regiment  for  desertion. 

March  24 — Commenced  marching  this  morning,  got 
seventeen  miles  and  halted.  Laid  here  in  the  woods 
until  the  27th.  Went  to  several  houses  and  had  a  good 
time  with  ladies  and  eatables  up  to  the  29th. 

March  29 — Here  still,  but  positively  don't  know 
where  we  are. 

March  30 — Left  this  morning  at  5  o'clock,  marched 
fifteen  miles.  Waded  clay-bottom  swamps  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  long.  This  is  in  Pitt  County,  North 
Carolina.  We  then  camped  in  the  woods  and  made 
fires  to  dry  ourselves  with. 

March  31 — Left  at  7  this  morning,  marched  six 
miles,  waded  several  creeks,  and  arrived  at  Swift 
Creek  at  11.  This  is  a  small  village.  We  camp  here 
for  the  night. 

April  1 — Left  here  on  the  Little  Washington  dirt 
road  at  7  this  morning.  Marched  seventeen  miles  and 
halted  three  miles  from  Washington.  This  is  a  Yan- 
kee post.  Heard  firing  all  day,  and  we  are  ordered  to 
keep  our  cartridge  boxes  on  us  and  our  guns  by  our 
sides,  as  we  may  move  any  moment. 

April    2 — Our    regiment   was    sent   on   picket   this 

morning  at  daylight — one  mile  from  camp  and  two 

miles  from  the  enemy.    Companies  B  and  G  are  on  the 

left,  A  and  D  on  the  right,  F  and  I  in  the  center.    We 

[20] 


Confederate  Soldier 

are  within  hailing  distance  of  the  Yankee  line  of  pick- 
ets. There  is  not  much  firing.  Tom  Tiotter  and  I 
are  on  the  color  guard.  We  have  nothing  to  do  if  we 
don't  want  to,  except  stay  with  the  colors.  So  this 
evening  at  4  o'clock  we  went  as  near  the  Yankees  as 
we  dared,  to  see  the  town  of  Washington.  Saw  the 
place,  their  breastworks  and  their  camps  very  plainly. 
We  then  returned  and  slept  on  our  arms  all  night — 
that  is,  we  tried. to  sleep,  but  could  not  for  the  infer- 
nal noise  from  the  owls  that  are  in  the  swamps  around 
us. 

April  3 — Little  Washington  is  on  Tar  River,  and 
as  one  of  the  Yankee  gunboats  was  trying  to  get  in, 
one  of  our  cannon  gave  them  a  ball,  which  caused 
heavy  firing  all  day,  and,  in  fact,  the  shells  came  very 
close  to  our  flag,  which  made  us  dodge  pretty  smart. 
We  have  Washington  besieged.  At  8  o'clock  to-night 
Colonel  Owens  called  for  volunteers  to  go  as  near  the 
Yankees  as  they  could,  to  see  what  they  were  doing. 
Tom  Tiotter  and  myself  went.  We  got  to  within  two 
hundred  yards  of  Washington,  when  we  were  com- 
pelled to  halt,  as  we  were  near  the  bridge,  where  we 
could  hear  the  Yankee  sentinels  walking  their  beats 
very  plainly — so  we  returned  to  camp  and  reported. 

April  4 — Firing  at  intervals  all  day.  The  reserve 
was  sent  to  the  river  to  support  our  artillery.  The 
colors  went  with  them.  It  is  raining  hard.  We  laid 
in  line  two  and  a  half  hours  in  an  old  field.  It  is  very 
cold.  The  Yankees  are  firing  all  the  time.  Then 
the  43d  Regiment  came  and  relieved  us.  Katz  came 
[  21  ] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

in  to-day  and  reported  Henry  Wortheim  dead — he 
died  Monday,  March  30. 

April  5 — Everything-  is  quiet  on  our  line  to-day. 

April  6 — A  little  firing  to-day.  Went  to  the  river 
to  throw  up  breastworks.  Worked  all  night.  We  put 
up  one  piece  of  cannon  right  on  the  river  bank,  but 
had  to  work  all  night  in  the  swamp  to  do  so.  Wet: 
carried  sandbags  for  breastworks  to  protect  the  artil- 
lerymen. 

April  7 — To-day  the  firing  was  very  heavy.  We 
hit  the  Yankee  gunboat  again  to-day,  and  made  the 
dust  fly  out  of  their  breastworks. 

April  8 — This  morning  Tom  Tiotter,  Katz  and  my- 
self went  with  Captain  White  to  meet  three  Yankees 
with  a  flag  of  truce ;  but  they  would  not  come  half 
way,  so  Colonel  Owens  ordered  us  back.  We  then — 
we  three — went  to  our  siege-gun  and  saw  the  town 
very  plainly.  They  fired  at  us  while  we  were  there. 
The  fire  was  returned,  and  we  could  see  the  Yankees 
dodge. 

April  9 — We  were  relieved  this  morning  by  the  32d 
Regiment,  and  marched  to  Bellevue,  where  the  balance 
of  our  brigade  is.  At  11  o'clock  to-night  we  were  or- 
dered to  march.  We  went  fifteen  miles.  There  was 
a  fight  there  to-day.  Marched  all  night  without  rest- 
ing. 

April  10 — Got  to  our  line  at  6  this  morning.  The 
Yankees  had  fallen  back.  They  had  nineteen  regi- 
ments and  twenty-one  pieces  of  artillery.  They  left: 
[22] 


Confederate  Soldier 

in  a  hurry.  One  of  their  colonels  was  killed  and  I 
don't  know  how  many  men.  We  left  Blount  Creek 
Bridge  at  4  this  evening,  marched  nine  miles  on  our 
way  back  to  Bellevue.  We  met  the  Bethel  regiment, 
and  I  met  several  friends  of  my  old  company. 

April  13 — Up  to  date  they  are  firing  at  Fort  Hill 
and  Washington  all  the  time. 

April  14 — Nothing. 

April  15 — Raining  very  hard.  We  have  a  blanket 
spread  over  poles  to  keep  us  dry.  We  got  orders  to 
march  this  evening.  Went  five  miles  through  mud 
and  water,  and  it  raining  like  fury.  I  shall  long  re- 
member this  march,  as  well  as  a  few  others  of  my 
company.  We  fell  in  the  mud  several  times,  and  were 
certainly  beautiful  objects  to  look  at  with  our  suits 
of  mud,  for  we  were  completely  covered  with  it. 

April  16 — At  7  this  morning  we  resumed  our 
march.  Went  two  miles,  halted  a  half  hour,  then 
turned  about  and  went  to  our  old  camp,  but  again 
were  ordered  back  at  2  P.M.  to  our  picket  posts,  one 
mile  from  Washington.  As  we  got  there  the  Yan- 
kees gave  us  a  good  reception  in  shot,  shell  and  mus- 
ketry, but  all  the  damage  they  did  was  to  rail  fences 
and  perhaps  a  few  owls  that  are  plentiful  in  the 
swamps.  Our  line  is  on  the  edge  of  the  swamp.  They 
shelled  heavy  all  night,  but  no  lives  were  lost  on  our 
side.  At  8  P.M.  our  pickets  fired  on  them,  but  they 
did  not  respond.  We  laid  here  until  2  at  night,  when 
we  went  to  Bellevue  under  fire  from  the  enemy.  We 
stayed  here  the  balance  of  the  night. 
[23] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

April  17 — At  daylight  this  morning  our  company 
was  ordered  to  go  on  picket  at  Shingle  Landing,  five 
miles  from  Bellevue.  I  asked  Colonel  Morehead  to 
let  me  go  with  them,  but  he  refused,  and  said  I  should 
stay  with  the  colors,  but  I  went  without  his  permis- 
sion. In  a  march  of  five  miles  we  waded  through 
three  miles  of  swamp,  knee-deep.  We  are  in  a  devil 
of  a  position.  The  enemy  can  cut  us  off  from  our 
command  easily,  as  we  cannot  return,  except  through 
the  swamp,  which  of  course  would  be  very  slow 
progress.  At  4  this  evening  we  were  recalled,  and 
met  our  regiment  on  the  march  and  fell  in.  Colonel 
Morehead  did  not  miss  me  from  the  colors.  We 
marched  seven  miles  and  halted  for  the  night. 

April  18 — Left  at  9  this  morning,  and  got  to  Green- 
ville at  5  o'clock — eleven  miles.  This  is  a  fine  coun- 
try, but  hilly  and  hard  marching.  This  is  the  end  of 
the  siege  of  Washington.  We  were  there  sixteen  days, 
but  could  not  draw  the  enemy  out  of  their  works. 

April  19 — Nothing  to-day  but  rest,  which  we 
needed  very  much. 

April  20 — Went  on  picket  this  morning  to  the  south 
side  of  the  town,  across  the  river,  but  did  not  go  on 
picket.  Our  company  and  Company  G  supported  two 
pieces  of  artillery.  I  was  again  refused  permission 
by  Morehead  to  go  with  my  company,  but  I  went  all 
the  same. 

April  21 — Nothing  doing. 

April  22 — Ordered  to  our  brigade  at  12  M. 
[24] 


Confederate  Soldier 

April  23 — Raining  hard  all  day  and  night.  No 
shelter.    We  got  as  wet  as  drowned  cats. 

April  24 — This  morning  I  was  detailed  by  Colonel 
Owens  to  go  to  Wilson,  N.  C,  to  get  the  baggage  for 
our  officers.  Left  at  3  A.M.,  got  to  Tarboro  at  7 
P.M.  This  is  a  very  pretty  town.  Stayed  here  until 
3  and  took  the  cars  to  Rocky  Mount.  Got  there  at 
5,  left  at  7,  and  got  to  Wilson  at  8  on  the  morning 
of  the  25th.  Got  my  baggage  and  left  at  3  P.M.  Ar- 
rived at  Rocky  Mount  at  4.  Saw  some  fun  with  a 
girl  and  an  old  woman.  The  young  one  had  stole  a 
petticoat  from  the  old  one,  and  was  compelled  to  take 
it  off  and  return  it  in  the  presence  of  at  least  fifty 
men.  Left  at  8,  got  to  Tarboro  at  a  quarter  after 
nine. 

April  26 — Left  here  this  morning  and  took  the 
same  route  that  I  came  by.  Our  boat  got  to  Green- 
ville at  10  A.M.  My  regiment  in  my  absence  has 
gone  twelve  miles  across  the  river  to  a  place  called 
Pacatolus.  I  followed  them  in  a  buggy,  and  got  there 
at  4  P.M. 

April  2y — Left  here  at  3  this  morning.  Got  to 
Greenville  at  6  A.M.,  stayed  a  quarter  of  an  hour, 
and  marched  to  the  crossroads,  nine  miles  from  town; 
got  there  at  6  P.M. 

April  28 — Turned  about  this  morning  at  7,  got  to 
Greenville  at  10,  and  went  to  our  former  camp.  Then 
got  orders  to  return  to  Pacatolus  in  the  morning. 

April  29 — We  left  this  morning.  The  regiment 
[25] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

was  two  miles  on  the  road  when  we  got  orders  to  re- 
turn. But  Tom  Tiotter  and  myself  marched  ahead 
of  the  regiment,  and  had  got  four  miles  before  we  had 
found  out  that  the  regiment  was  not  in  our  rear. 
When  we  got  back  we  were  laughed  at  for  our  smart- 
ness. 

April  30 — Laid  in  camp  and  rested. 

May  1 — We  left  here  this  morning  at  thirty  minutes 
after  4  for  Kinston.  Marched  eleven  miles  without 
halting. 

May  2 — Resumed  our  march  at  6  A.M.,  and  reached 
Kinston  at  8  P.M. — twenty-four  miles  to-day. 

May  3 — We  camped  one  mile  from  town.  We  left 
here  on  the  25th  day  of  March,  and  returned  May  2. 
Went  through  a  campaign  of  twenty-seven  days.  In 
that  time  we  had  Washington  besieged  sixteen  days. 
The  balance  of  the  time  we  were  marching  and  coun- 
ter-marching in  all  kinds  of  weather,  and  very  often 
without  anything  to  eat. 

May  4  and  5 — Nothing. 

May  6 — Left  here  at  12  M.  for  Core  Creek,  marched 
nine  miles  and  halted.  Raining  hard,  and  we  got  well 
soaked.  The  rain  ran  down  our  faces  all  night,  so 
we  did  not  have  to  wash  our  faces  on  the  morning 
of  the  7th. 

May  7 — Resumed  our  march  at  8  A.M.,  got  ten 
miles,  and  halted  within  one  mile  of  the  creek.  We 
waded  Gum  Swamp,  stayed  there  three  hours,  and 
turned  about — marched  nine  miles  to-night.  This  ex- 
pedition was  to  tear  up  the  Newbern  and  Kinston  Rail- 
[26] 


Confederate  Soldier 

road,  and  also  bring  some  ladies  and  old  men  out  of 
the  Yankee  lines,  for  they  had  been  driven  out  of 
Newbern.  There  were  about  seventy  in  all.  They 
were,  of  course,  Southern  people  who  would  not  take 
the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United  States  Govern- 
ment, and  therefore  were  driven  out  of  their  homes. 

May  8— We  left  here  at  8  A.M.,  to  return  to  Kin- 
ston,  and  got  there  at  3  P.M. — ten  miles — awful  road. 
Waded  through  mud,  water  and  sand  the  whole  way. 
My  feet  are  cut  up  pretty  badly. 

May  9  and  10 — Resting. 

May  11 — We  moved  our  camp  to  the  north  side 
of  town.  Then  we  were  marched  to  an  open  field 
this  afternoon,  and  drawn  up  in  line  to  see  two  men 
shot  for  desertion.  After  they  were  shot,  we  marched 
"by  them  and  saw  one  was  hit  six  times  and  the  other 
four.  Their  coffins  were  by  their  sides,  right  close 
to  their  graves,  so  that  they  could  see  it  all. 

May  17 — Up  to  to-day  nothing.  But  this  morning 
at  4  we  were  ordered  to  cook  up  all  our  rations,  and 
be  ready  to  march  in  one  hour.  We  left  Kinston  by 
rail  at  12  M.  Got  to  Goldsboro  at  3,  went  through 
to  Weldon,  left  here  at  5  P.M.,  and  got  to  Peters- 
burg, Va.,  on  the  morning  of  the  18th;  left  there  at 
6  P.M.  Katz  and  myself  went  uptown — ate  two  sup- 
pers. Had  a  very  good  time  while  in  town.  We 
camped  all  night  on  Dunn's  Hill. 

May  19 — Left  here  at  5  this  morning,  got  to  Rich- 
mond at  8,  and  are  stationed  at  Camp  Lee.  We  will 
Tiave  to  march  to  Fredericksburg.  Our  brigade  is 
[  27  ] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

transferred  to  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia.  Wil- 
liam Cochran,  myself  and  several  of  our  company  ran 
the  blockade  to-night,  went  uptown  to  a  theatre,  and 
got  back  to  camp  at  2  o'clock.  We  had  a  fine  time 
while  uptown. 

May  21 — Left  this  morning,  marched  twenty-one 
miles,  halted  at  5.30.  It  is  a  very  hilly  country,  warm 
and  dusty. 

May  22 — Marched  twenty  miles  to-day,  and  halted 
at  6  P.M. 

May  23 — Marched  fifteen  miles  and  halted.  On  our 
to-day's  march  we  saw  any  amount  of  dead  horses, 
which  did  not  smell  altogether  like  cologne. 

May  24 — Laid  here  all  day,  it  being  Sunday. 

May  25 — Resumed  our  march  this  morning  at  6. 
Got  six  miles  and  halted.  We  pitched  our  camp  here 
on  a  hill  two  miles  from  Fredericksburg. 

May  26  and  27 — Rested.  I  went  to  see  my  brother 
Morris,  who  belongs  to  Dowles'  Brigade,  44th  Geor- 
gia Regiment.    Did  not  see  him,  as  he  was  on  picket. 

May  28 — Morris  came  to  see  me  to-day.  We  are 
both  in  the  same  division  and  corps.  Our  corps  is 
commanded  by  General  Ewell. 

May  29 — Had  a  general  review  to-day.  General 
Rodes  is  our  division  commander.  He  and  General 
Lee  reviewed  us.  I  see  a  great  change  in  the  appear- 
ance of  General  Lee.  He  looks  so  much  older  than 
when 'I  saw  him  at  Yorktown.  Then  his  hair  was 
black.  Now  he  is  a  gray-headed  old  man.  We  have 
five  brigades  in  our  division.  The  commander  of 
[28] 


Confederate  Soldier 

my  brigade  is  General  Daniels,  of  North  Carolina. 
One  brigade  of  Georgians  is  commanded  by  General 
Dowles.  Iverson,  of  North  Carolina,  has  another  bri- 
gade ;  also  General  Ramseur,  of  North  Carolina,  has 
a  brigade ;  and  General  Battle,  of  Alabama,  has  a 
brigade.  Our  corps  is  composed  of  three  divisions, 
ours  by  General  Rodes,  one  by  General  Early,  and  the 
other  by  Gen.  A.  Johnson. 

May  30 — We  see  the  Yankees  in  balloons  every  day, 
reconnoitering  our  lines. 

June  1  and  2 — Nothing  new. 

June  3 — Saw  my  brother  Morris  several  times. 

June  4 — Got  orders  to  cook  three  days'  rations  im- 
mediately. We  left  our  camp  at  3  this  morning, 
marched  fourteen  miles  and  halted.  We  march  one 
hour  and  rest  ten  minutes. 

June  5 — Marched  until  4  o'clock  this  evening — 
twenty  miles  to-day. 

June  6 — Marched  five  miles  and  halted  for  the  day. 

June  7 — Left  at  5  A.M.,  got  to  Culpepper  Court 
House  3  P.M.,  and  marched  four  miles  on  the  east 
side  of  town.  Twenty  miles  to-day.  We  waded  Rapi- 
dan  River,  which  is  forty  yards  wide,  two  feet  deep 
and  very  swift. 

June  8 — Stayed  here  all  day. 

June  9 — We  were  ordered  to  Beverly  Ford,  to  sup- 
port Gen.  Jeb  Stewart,  who  is  engaging  the  Yan- 
kees, and  they  are  having  a  very  hard  cavalry  fight. 
Got  here  in  a  roundabout  way,  and  formed  in  line  of 
[29] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

battle,  with  two  lines  of  skirmishers  in  front.  When 
we  got  to  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  we  were  told 
that  each  company  must  furnish  one  skirmisher  out  of 
every  six  men,  and  there  was  a  call  for  volunteers  for 
that  service.  So  I  left  the  colors  and  went  as  a  skir- 
misher, whose  duty  it  is  in  time  of  battle  to  go  in  front 
of  the  line  and  reconnoitre  and  engage  the  enemy 
until  a  general  engagement,  then  we  fall  in  line  with 
balance  of  the  army.  As  soon  as  the  enemy  saw  that 
the  cavalry  were  reinforced  by  infantry,  they  fell 
back.  This  was  altogether  a  cavalry  fight.  We  took 
quite  a  number  of  prisoners,  and  camped  two  miles 
from  the  battlefield.  We  marched  twelve  miles  to- 
day. 

June  10 — Left  here  at  2  P.M.,  marched  until  8 
o'clock  to-night — twelve  miles. 

June  11 — Resumed  our  march  at  5  A.M.,  passed 
over  three  creeks  that  formed  the  Rappahannock 
River,  passed  through  a  town  called  Flint  Hill,  and 
camped  one  mile  on  the  north  side  of  the  town. 
Marched  sixteen  miles  to-day. 

June  12 — Left  at  5  A.M.,  marched  over  part  of 
the  Blue  Ridge,  and  crossed  the  head  of  the  Rap- 
pahannock River- — eighteen  miles  to-day.  We  marched 
through  Front  Royal,  where  the  ladies  treated  us 
very  good.  Camped  one  mile  north  side  of  town,  and 
waded  the  Shaninoar,  both  prongs. 

June  13 — Marched  to  Berry ville,  a  Yankee  post. 
Heard  firing  before  we  got  there.  We  took  the  left 
[30] 


Confederate  Soldier 

flank  a  half  mile  this  side  of  town,  and  marched  to 
the  Winchester  Turnpike.  We  then  formed  in  line 
of  battle  with  sharpshooters  in  front.  We  gave  the 
Rebel  yell  and  charged.  But  when  we  got  to  their 
breastworks  the  birds  had  flown.  They  did  not  take 
their  nests  with  them.  Their  camp,  with  all  their 
cooking  utensils,  quartermaster  and  commissary 
stores,  were  all  left  in  our  hands.  They  were  evi- 
dently cooking  a  meal,  for  plenty  of  pots  full  of  eat- 
ables were  still  on  the  fire  when  we  got  into  their 
camp.  We  ate  up  all  we  could,  and  filled  our  haver- 
sacks and  pushed  on  four  miles  further,  and  halted 
for  the  night.  It  is  raining  very  hard,  and  there  is, 
of  course,  no  shelter  for  us. 

June  14 — Left  at  7  A.M.,  passed  through  Smithfield 
and  Bunker  Hill.  The  Yankees  are  still  retreating  in 
our  front,  on  their  way  to  Martinsburg,  our  own 
destination.  We  got  there  about  9  o'clock  at  night 
and  drove  them  through  the  town,  and,  in  fact,  we 
felt  like  driving  the  devil  out  of  his  stronghold,  as 
this  was  a  very  warm  day.  We  had  to  march  in 
quick  time  all  day,  a  distance  of  twenty-five  miles. 
Therefore  we  were  not  in  the  best  of  humor.  This 
is  a  good  sized  town. 

June  15 — Left  here  at  11  A.M.,  and  got  to  the  Poto- 
mac river  at  dusk,  a  distance  of  twelve  miles.  We 
have  as  yet  been  very  fortunate.  Have  driven  the 
enemy  from  the  Rapidan  to  the  Potomac,  captured 
prisoners,  arms,  camps,  quartermaster  and  commis- 
sary stores,  and  the  Yankees  were  any  moment  as 
[  31  ] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

strong  in  numbers  as  we,  with  the  advantage  of 
having  breastworks  to  fight  behind.  Still  they  always 
ran  at  our  appearance. 

June  1 6 — Resting  to-day. 

June  17 — We  crossed  the  Potomac  River  to-day  at 
1  P.M.,  and  camped  in  Williamsport,  Maryland,  on 
the  banks  of  the  Potomac.  Two  miles  to-day.  The 
river  is  knee-deep. 

June  18 — The  people  are  mixed  in  their  sympathies, 
some  Confederates  and  some  Yankees. 

June  19 — Left  at  8  A.M.,  and  seven  miles  took  us  to 
Hagerstown,  Md.  Here  the  men  greeted  us  very 
shabby,  but  the  ladies  quite  the  reverse.  This  town 
has  5,000  inhabitants,  and  is  a  very  pretty  town.  We 
camped  on  the  Antietam. 

June  20  and  21 — Raining  hard. 

June  22 — Left  this  morning  at  8  o'clock,  got  to 
Middleburg,  Pa.,  at  11,  passed  through  it,  and  got  to 
Green  Castle  at  half  past  one.  Eleven  miles  to-day. 
The  people  seemed  downhearted,  and  showed  their  ha- 
tred to  us  by  their  glum  looks  and  silence,  and  I  am 
willing  to  swear  that  no  prayers  will  be  offered  in 
this  town  for  us  poor,  ragged  rebels. 

June  23 — Here  all  day.  Tom  Tiotter  and  myself 
went  out  to  buy  something  to  eat,  but  when  we  came 
to  a  house,  they  would  close  their  doors  in  our  faces, 
or  let  us  knock  and  not  open.  We  got  the  ear  of 
one  or  two  ladies,  and  after  proving  to  them  that  we 
were  not  wild  animals  nor  thieves,  they  gave  us  what 
we  wanted,  but  would  not  take  pay  for  anything. 
[32] 


Confederate  Soldier 

June  24 — Left  here  this  morning,  got  to  Chambers- 
burg  at  12  M.  Went  three  miles  on  the  north  side  of 
town  on  picket — 14  miles  to-day.  We  passed  through 
Marion,  a  small  village.  Chambersburg  is  a  very  fine 
place,  10,000  inhabitants,  but  nary  a  smile  greeted  us 
as  we  marched  through  town.  There  are  a  plenty 
of  men  here — a  pity  they  are  not  rebels,  and  in  our 
ranks.  This  city  is  in  Franklin  County,  Cumberland 
Valley.  We  were  woke  up  in  the  middle  of  the  night 
and  marched  off;  waded  a  river  which  was  so  cold 
that  it  woke  us  up.  Passed  through  Greenville  to-day 
at  dawn.  This  town  has,  I  should  judge,  about 
5,000  inhabitants.     Nine  miles  to-day. 

June  25 — Marched  on,  passed  through  Leesburg, 
Canada,  Hockinsville,  and  Centerville,  all  small  vil- 
lages. We  got  to  Carlisle,  Pa.,  at  sundown.  Marched 
21  miles  to-day.  This  city  is  certainly  a  beautiful 
place.  It  has  8,000  inhabitants,  and  we  were  treated 
very  good  by  the  ladies.  They  thought  we  would 
do  as  their  soldiers  do,  burn  every  place  we  passed 
through,  but  when  we  told  them  the  strict  orders  of 
General  Lee  they  were  rejoiced.  Our  regiment  was 
provost  guard  in  the  city,  but  were  relieved  by  the 
2 1  st  Georgia  Regiment,  and  we  went  to  camp  at  the 
U.  S.  barracks.  So  far  we  have  lived  very  good  in  the 
enemy's  country.  We  stayed  here  until  the  30th, 
when  we  took  the  Baltimore  pike  road,  crossed  South 
Mountain  at  Holly  Gap,  passed  through  Papertown 
and  Petersburg.  We  then  left  the  Pike  and  took  the 
Gettysburg  road — 17  miles  to-day.  This  has  been  a 
[33] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

hard  day  for  us,  as  we  were  the  rear  guard  of  the 
division,  and  it  was  very  hot,  close  and  very  dusty, 
and  a  terrible  job  to  keep  the  stragglers  up. 

July  i — We  left  camp  at  6  A.M.,  passed  through 
Heidelsburg  and  Middleton.  At  the  latter  place  we 
heard  firing  in  the  direction  of  Gettysburg.  We  were 
pushed  forward  after  letting  the  wagon  trains  get  in 
our  rear.  We  got  to  Gettysburg  at  i  P.M.,  15  miles. 
We  were  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  about  one  mile 
south  of  town,  and  a  little  to  the  left  of  the  Lutheran 
Seminary.  We  then  advanced  to  the  enemy's  line  of 
battle  in  double  quick  time.  We  had  not  gotten  more 
than  50  paces  when  Norman  of  our  company  fell  dead 
by  my  side.  Katz  was  going  to  pick  him  up.  I 
stopped  him,. as  it  is  strictly  forbidden  for  anyone  to 
help  take  the  dead  or  wounded  off  the  field  except  the 
ambulance  corps.  We  then  crossed  over  a  rail  fence, 
where  our  Lieutenant  McMatthews  and  Lieutenant 
Alexander  were  both  wounded.  That  left  us  with  a 
captain  and  one  lieutenant.  After  this  we  got  into 
battle  in  earnest,  and  lost  in  our  company  very  heavily, 
both  killed  and  wounded.  This  fight  lasted  four  hours 
and  a  half,  when  at  last  we  drove  them  clear  out  of 
town,  and  took  at  least  3,000  prisoners.  They  also  lost 
very  heavily  in  killed  and  wounded,  which  all  fell  into 
our  hands.  After  the  fight  our  company  was  ordered 
to  pick  up  all  straggling  Yankees  in  town,  and  bring 
them  together  to  be  brought  to  the  rear  as  prisoners. 
One  fellow  I  took  up  could  not  speak  one  word  of 
English,  and  the  first  thing  he  asked  me  in  German 
[34] 


Confederate  Soldier 

was  "Will  I  get  my  pay  in  prison?"  After  we  had 
them  all  put  up  in  a  pen  we  went  to  our  regiment  and 
rested.  Major  Iredell,  of  our  regiment,  came  to  me 
and  shook  my  hand,  and  also  complimented  me  for 
action  in  the  fight.  At  dusk  I  was  about  going  to 
hunt  up  my  brother  Morris,  when  he  came  to  me. 
Thank  God,  we  are  both  safe  as  yet.  We  laid  all  night 
among  the  dead  Yankees,  but  they  did  not  disturb 
our  peaceful  slumbers. 

July  2 — Our  division  was  in  reserve  until  dark,  but 
our  regiment  was  supporting  a  battery  all  day.  We 
lost  several  killed  and  wounded,  although  we  had  no 
chance  to  fire — only  lay  by  a  battery  of  artillery  and 
be  shot  at.  The  caisson  of  the  battery  we  were  sup- 
porting was  blown  up  and  we  got  a  big  good  sprin- 
kling of  the  wood  from  it.  Just  at  dark  we  were  sent 
to  the  front  under  terrible  cannonading.  Still,  it  was 
certainly  a  beautiful  sight.  It  being  dark,  we  could 
see  the  cannon  vomit  forth  fire.  Our  company  had 
to  cross  a  rail  fence.  It  gave  way  and  several  of  our 
boys  were  hurt  by  others  walking  over  them.  We 
laid  down  here  a  short  time,  in  fact  no  longer  than  10 
minutes,  when  I  positively  fell  asleep.  The  cannon- 
ading did  not  disturb  me.  One  of  the  boys  shook  me 
and  told  me  Katz  was  wounded  by  a  piece  of  a  shell 
striking  him  on  the  side,  and  he  was  sent  to  the  rear. 
We  went  on  to  the  Baltimore  Turnpike  until  3  in  the 
morning  of  the  3d. 

July  3 — When  under  a  very  heavy  fire,  we  were 
ordered  on  Culps  Hill,  to  the  support  of  Gen.  A. 
[35] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

Johnson.  Here  we  stayed  all  day — no,  here,  I  may 
say,  we  melted  away.  We  were  on  the  brow  of  one 
hill,  the  enemy  on  the  brow  of  another.  We  charged 
on  them  several  times,  but  of  course,  running  down 
our  hill,  and  then  to  get  to  them  was  impossible,  and 
every  time  we  attempted  it  we  came  back  leaving  some 
of  our  comrades  behind.  Here  our  Lieutenant  Belt 
lost  his  arm.  We  have  now  in  our  company  a  captain. 
All  of  our  lieutenants  are  wounded.  We  fought  here 
until  7  P.M.,  when  what  was  left  of  us  was  withdrawn 
and  taken  to  the  first  day's  battlefield.  At  the  com- 
mencement of  this  fight  our  Brigade  was  the  strongest 
in  our  division,  but  -she  is  not  now.  We  lost  the  most 
men,  for  we  were  in  the  fight  all  the  time,  and  I  have 
it  from  Colonel  Owens  that  our  regiment  lost  the  most 
in  the  Brigade.  I  know  that  our  company  went  in 
the  fight  with  60  men.  When  we  left  Culps  Hill  there 
were  16  of  us  that  answered  to  the  roll  call.  The 
balance  were  all  killed  and  wounded.  There  were  12 
sharpshooters  in  our  company  and  now  John  Cochran 
and  myself  are  the  only  ones  that  are  left.  This  day 
none  will  forget,  that  participated  in  the  fight.  It  was 
truly  awful  how  fast,  how  very  fast,  did  our  poor 
boys  fall  by  our  sides — almost  as  fast  as  the  leaves 
that  fell  as  cannon  and  musket  balls  hit  them,  as  they 
flew  on  their  deadly  errand.  You  could  see  one  with 
his  head  shot  off,  others  cut  in  two,  then  one  with 
his  brain  oozing  out,  one  with  his  leg  off,  others  shot 
through  the  heart.  Then  you  would  hear  some  poor 
friend  or  foe  crying  for  water,  or  for  "God's  sake" 
[36] 


?A 


Confederate  Soldier 

to  kill  him.  You  would  see  some  of  your  comrades, 
shot  through  the  leg,  lying  between  the  lines,  asking 
his  friends  to  take  him  out,  but  no  one  could  get  to 
his  relief,  and  you  would  have  to  leave  him  there, 
perhaps  to  die,  or,  at  best,  to  become  a  prisoner.  Our 
brigade  was  the  only  one  that  was  sent  to  Culps  Hill 
to  support  General  Johnson.  In  our  rapid  firing  to-  ' 
day  my  gun  became  so  hot  that  the  ramrod  would 
not  come  out,  so  I  shot  it  at  the  Yankees,  and  picked 
up  a  gun  from  the  ground,  a  gun  that  some  poor 
comrade  dropped  after  being  shot.  I  wonder  if  it  hit 
a  Yankee;  if  so,  I  pity  him.  Our  regiment  was  in  a 
very  exposed  position  at  one  time  to-day,  and  our 
General  Daniels  ordered  a  courier  of  his  to  bring  us 
from  the  hill.  He  was  killed  before  he  got  to  us. 
The  General  sent  another.  He  was  also  killed  before 
he  reached  us.  Then  General  Daniels  would  not  order 
any  one,  but  called  for  volunteers.  Capt.  Ed.  Stitt, 
of  Charlotte,  one  of  his  aides,  responded,  and  he  took 
us  out  of  the  exposed  position. 

July  4 — We  laid  on  the  battlefield  of  the  first  day, 
this  the  fourth  day  of  July.  No  fighting  to-day,  but 
we  are  burying  the  dead.  They  have  been  lying  on 
the  field  in  the  sun  since  the  first  day's  fight;  it  be- 
ing dusty  and  hot,  the  dead  smell  terribly.  The  funny 
part  of  it  is,  the  Yankees  have  all  turned  black.  Sev- 
eral of  our  company,  wounded,  have  died.  Katz  is 
getting  along  all  right.  The  battle  is  over,  and  al- 
though we  did  not  succeed  in  pushing  the  enemy  out 
of  their  strong  position,  I  am  sure  thev  have  not  any- 
[37] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

thing  to  boast  about.  They  have  lost  at  least  as  many 
in  killed  and  wounded  as  we  have.  We  have  taken 
more  prisoners  from  them  than  they  have  from  us. 
If  that  is  not  the  case,  why  did  they  lay  still  all  to- 
day and  see  our  army  going  to  the  rear?  An  army 
that  has  gained  a  great  victory  follows  it  up  while 
its  enemy  is  badly  crippled ;  but  Meade,  their  com- 
mander, knows  he  has  had  as  much  as  he  gave,  at 
least,  if  not  more.  As  yet  I  have  not  heard  a  word 
from  my  brother  Morris  since  the  first  day's  fight. 

July  5 — Left  this  morning  at  5  o'clock.  Only 
marched  ten  miles  to-day.  The  enemy  being  in  our 
rear,  and  skirmishing  very  strong. 

July  6 — Our  company  was  ordered  out  as  skirmish- 
ers to-day,  as  our  regular  skirmish  corps  was  broken 
up  during  the  fight.  We  were  the  rear  of  the  army, 
and  therefore  had  a  very  hard  job  before  us.  Fight- 
ing all  day  in  falling  back  we  certainly  had  fun.  We 
were  close  enough  to  the  enemy  to  hear  their  com- 
mands. We  would  hold  them  in  check  and  give  them 
a  few  rounds,  then  fall  back  again.  They  would 
then  advance  until  we  would  make  a  stand,  fight 
again,  and  so  it  was  until  we  reached  Fairfield,  six 
miles  from  Gettysburg.  I  don't  think  there  were 
many  lost  on  either  side  in  this  skirmish.  We  crossed 
South  Mountain  at  Monteray  Gap.  When  we  came  to 
the  above  town  I  pressed  into  service  a  citizen's  coat, 
in  this  way:  We  were  ordered  to  rest,  and,  as  usual, 
we  would  sit  on  fences  and  lay  about  the  road.  Some 
of  the  boys  jumped  on  an  old  hog  pen.  It  broke 
[38] 


Confederate  Soldier 

through.  They  fell  in,  and,  lo  and  behold,  there  were 
boxes  of  clothing,  dresses,  shawls,  blankets,  and,  in 
fact,  everything  in  the  line  of  wearing  apparel.  I,  be- 
ing a  little  fellow,  crawled  through  some  of  the  boys' 
legs  and  captured  the  coat.  If  the  fool  citizen  would 
have  left  his  things  in  his  house  they  would  have 
been  safe,  but  to  put  it  in  our  way  was  too  much  for 
us  to  leave  behind.  We  also  passed  through  Water- 
boro,  and  Waynesboro,  Pa.,  where  the  Maryland  line 
commences.  We  then  passed  through  Latisburg,  and 
halted  in  Hagerstown,  Mdv  on  the  evening  of  the 
7th.  We  marched  yesterday  and  all  night  up  to  11 
o'clock — twenty-four  miles. 

July  8 — We  are  resting,  and,  goodness  knows,  we 
need  it  very  much.  I  sold  my  coat  for  twenty  dollars 
and  a  gray  jacket.  We  lost  in  the  last  fight  in  our 
company  eleven  killed  and  twenty-six  wounded ;  three 
of  the  latter  will  not  live,  and  nine  of  our  number  be- 
came prisoners,  besides  the  wounded.  Our  three  lieu- 
tenants are  all  wounded  and  prisoners.  Katz  is  also 
a  prisoner.     Nothing  further  up  to  the  10th. 

July  10 — Moved  four  and  a  half  miles  on  the  other 
side  of  town.     We  have  fortified  ourselves  here. 

July  11 — Orders  read  out  to-day  from  our  father, 
R.  E.  Lee,  that  we  would  fight  the  enemy  once  more 
on  their  own  soil,  as  they  were  now  in  our  front.  That 
order  got  to  them,  and  fulfilled  its  mission,  as  we 
were  then  on  our  way  to  the  Potomac.  They  still 
thinking  we  could  not  cross  the  river,  because  the 
river  was  very  high  from  the  recent  rains,  and  we 
[39] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

had  but  one  pontoon  bridge.  At  10  in  the  night  we 
formed  in  line  of  battle,  got  to  our  position,  when 
our  regiment  was  ordered  to  support  a  battery.  Laid 
on  our  arms  all  night. 

July  12 — Went  back  to  our  brigade  this  morning. 
Skirmishing  very  heavy  on  the  left  and  center. 

July  13 — News  came  to  us  to-day  that  Vicksburg^ 
had  fallen  on  the  4th.  Heavy  skirmishing,  fighting 
all  day.  Our  brigade  again  acted  as  the  rear  of  our 
corps,  our  regiment  being  its  rear.  We  started  our 
retreat  at  dark  and  marched  to  Williamsport,  six 
miles,  through  mud  and  slush  ankle-deep,  and  raining 
very  hard.  We  marched  one  mile  to  the  right  of  and 
crossed  the  Potomac  at  midnight,  after  wading; 
through  the  canal,  which  we  destroyed.  The  river 
was  up  to  my  chin,  and  very  swift.  We  crossed  in 
fours,  for  protection,  as  otherwise  we  could  not  have 
crossed.  Our  cartridge  boxes  we  carried  around  our 
necks  to  keep  the  powder  dry.  On  the  south  bank 
tar  was  poured  so  that  we  would  not  slip  back  in  the- 
river,  as  the  mud  was  very  slick.  J.  Engle,  of  our 
company,  was  stuck  in  until  some  of  the  boys  pulled 
him  out.  We  went  six  miles  further,  and  I  honestly 
believe  more  of  us  were  asleep  on  our  night's  march 
than  awake.  But,  still,  all  kept  up,  for  the  rear  was 
prison.  We  then  halted,  made  fire  to  dry  ourselves, 
just  as  day  was  breaking  on  the  morning  of  the  14th. 

July  14 — The  roads  are  so  bad  that  it  is  hard  work 
to  trudge  along.  I  stuck  in  the  mud  several  times, 
and  lost  one  shoe  in  a  mud  hole,  but  of  course  took 
[40] 


Confederate  Soldier 

It  out  again.  One  consolation  we  have  got,  it  is  rain- 
ing so  hard  that  the  mud  is  washed  off  our  clothing, 
therefore  they  were  not  soiled  too  bad.  But  the  devil 
of  it  is  there  is  no  blacking  to  shine  our  shoes  with. 
Marched  sixteen  miles  and  halted.  We  are  now,  thank 
God,  on  Confederate  soil,  but  oh,  how  many  of  our 
dear  comrades  have  we  left  behind.  We  can  never 
forget  this  campaign.  We  had  hard  marching,  hard 
righting,  suffered  hunger  and  privation,  but  our  gen- 
eral officers  were  always  with  us,  to  help  the  weary 
soldier  carry  his  gun,  or  let  him  ride.  In  a  fight 
they  were  with  us  to  encourage.  Many  a  general  have 
I  seen  walk  and  a  poor  sick  private  riding  his  horse, 
and  our  father,  Lee,  was  scarcely  ever  out  of  sight 
when  there  was  danger.  We  could  not  feel  gloomy 
when  we  saw  his  old  gray  head  uncovered  as  he 
would  pass  us  on  the  march,  or  be  with  us  in  a  fight. 
I  care  not  how  weary  or  hungry  we  were,  when  we 
saw  him  we  gave  that  Rebel  yell,  and  hunger  and 
wounds  would  be  forgotten. 

July  15 — We  marched  five  miles  to-day,  and  were 
compelled  to  halt,  as  our  wagon  trains  had  to  get  in 
our  front.  I  and  two  of  our  mess  killed  three  tur- 
keys, took  them  with  us  to  one  mile  from  Martins- 
burg,  Va.,  where  we  camped,  and  the  bones  of  those 
turkeys  were  left  behind. 

July  16 — Left  this  morning  at  7;  marched  to 
Darkesville,  eight  miles. 

July  17 — Raining  very  hard  to-day,  and  we  are  rest- 
ing. 

[41] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

July  20 — Went  on  picket  to-day,  stayed  there  one 

hour,  and  was  ordered  back.     Got  to  camp,  and  found 

'our    brigade    gone.      We    marched    to    Martinsburg, 

halted  at  10  at  night,  two  miles  from  town — ten  miles 

to-day. 

July  21 — Went  through  town  at  5  this  morning,  to 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  with  Johnson's  di- 
vision and  part  of  Hampton's  Legion,  to  tear  up  the 
railroad.  We  destroyed  six  miles  of  it  and  returned 
to   our  camp  at  Darkesville — fifteen  miles  to-day. 

July  22 — Left  this  morning  at  5,  marched  through 
Winchester  three  miles,  and  halted. 

July  23 — Left  at  5  this  morning,  went  through 
Front  Royal — seventeen  miles  to-day.  Waded  the 
south  and  north  prongs  of  the  Shenandoah  River.  We 
then  took  the  road  to  Mananas  Gap,  marched  three 
miles,  when  we  met  the  enemy  and  had  brisk  firing 
until  dark.  Their  line  is  very  strong.  They  advanced 
in  two  lines  in  very  fine  order.  When  they  got  within 
range  of  our  guns  we  opened  on  them,  and  they  scat- 
tered like  bluebirds.  We  had  a  beautiful  view  of  this 
fight,  as  we  are  on  the  mountain.  Neither  of  the 
armies  can  move  without  being  seen  by  the  other. 
Our  corps  of  sharpshooters  has  been  formed  again 
since  a  few  days  ago.  We  were  sent  to  the  support 
of  the  other  corps.  We  were  within  twenty  yards  of 
the  enemy's  line  until  midnight,  when  we  fell  back 
in  good  order. 

July  24 — Marched  two  miles  up  Chester  Gap,  when 
we  were  about  faced  and  marched  through  Front 
[42] 


Confederate  Soldier 

Royal  again.  We  here  took  the  Strasburg  road  at 
daylight.  We  resumed  our  march,  and  halted  at  3 
in  the  evening.  We  have  been  on  a  forced  march 
three  days  and  nights,  waded  rivers,  fought  skir- 
mishes, and  marched  in  that  time  forty-five  miles.  We 
are  camped  in  an  apple  orchard  in  a  village  called 
Milford. 

July  25 — Left  this  morning  at  7  o'clock,  halted  at  3 
in  the  afternoon — sixteen  miles. 

July  26 — Rested  to-day.  William  Eagle  and  myself 
went  up  the  Blue  Ridge  to  gather  berries,  and  were 
lost  in  the  woods  for  one  hour. 

July  27 — Left  this  morning  at  5,  crossed  the  Blue 
Ridge  at  Thornton  Gap.  We  camped  one  mile  from 
Sparrowsville.     Marched  thirteen  miles  to-day. 

July  28 — Left  at  6  this  morning,  marched  ten  miles 
and  halted  on  the  mountain. 

July  29 — Left  at  7,  marched  until  3,  camped  one 
mile  from  Madison  Court  House.  Marched- ten  miles 
to-day. 

July  30 — Still  in  camp.  Hugh  Sample  and  myself 
were  out  on  a  forage  and  milked  a  cow  in  his  hat,  the 
only  thing  we  had. 

July  31 — We  left  here  to-night,  marched  seven 
miles,  and  halted. 

August  1 — Resumed  our  march  at  4  this  morning, 
and  got  to  Orange  Court  House,  fourteen  miles.  It 
is  a  very  hot  day,  and  there  were  several  men  fell 
dead  on  the  road  from  sunstroke.  We  rested  here  un- 
til the  4th. 

[43] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

August  4 — Left  our  camp,  marched  three  miles,  one 
mile  on  the  south  side  of  town. 

August  ii — Nothing  up  to  to-day.  This,  I  sup- 
pose, is  to  be  our  regular  camp,  as  we  have  com- 
menced to  drill  again. 

August  12 — We  had  a  very  severe  storm  to-day, 
which  killed  two  men  and  hurt  several  of  our  bri- 
gade.    It  tore  up  trees  and  played  smash  in  general. 

August  23 — They  have  commenced  to  give  fur- 
loughs, one  to  every  two  companies. 

August  24 — Was  on  guard  this  morning,  but  Ser- 
geant Hugh  Reid  sent  for  me,  and  detailed  me,  with 
some  men  out  of  every  regiment  in  our  brigade,  to 
hunt  deserters.  Si  Wolf  and  myself,  out  of  our  com- 
pany. We  left  camp  at  3  this  evening,  marched  two 
miles  up  the  railroad,  and  took  the  cars  to  Gordons- 
ville.  Got  there  at  4.  It  is  a  small  place,  but  one  of 
importance,  as  all  our  supplies  for  the  army  from 
Richmond  come  from  this  station. 

August  25 — Took  the  cars  at  5  A.M.  and  got  to 
Keswick,  a  depot  on  the  Stanton  road.  We  left  here 
after  staying  one  hour,  and  took  our  posts  in  the 
woods.  As  we  are  about  twenty  men,  with  one  lieu- 
tenant in  command,  we  made  no  camp,  but  stayed 
about  here  and  reported  every  time  there  was  any 
news  about  deserters.  Wolf  and  myself  went  out  in 
the  country  to  houses  that  we  were  told  harbored  de- 
serters. We  passed  ourselves  off  as  such,  and  were 
well  received,  and  got  some  valuable  information. 
They  told  us  that  the  deserters  were  in  the  woods. 
[44] 


Confederate  Soldier 

We  then  returned  to  our  companions,  and  got  well 
soaked,  as  it  was  raining  very  hard.  Stayed  in  a  barn 
all  night. 

August  26 — We  stayed  in  the  woods  all  day,  but  at 
night  went  out  scouting  for  deserters,  but  did  not 
find  any. 

August  27 — Returned  at  7  this  morning,  went  out 
again  at  dark,  went  through  four  houses  of  bad  re- 
pute, but  found  not  one  deserter.  Went  twelve  miles 
this  night. 

August  28 — We  moved  this  evening,  and  I  stayed 
in  a  gentleman's  house  all  night  with  Wolf. 

August  29 — Returned  to  our  companions  this  morn- 
ing at  10  o'clock. 

August  30 — Left  at  5  in  the  morning.  We  hunted 
through  the  cliffs  for  several  hours  and  caught  one 
deserter.  Several  of  our  men  and  myself  dined  in  a 
widow  lady's  house.  There  were  quite  a  number  of 
ladies  there,  and  we  had  a  very  pleasant  time.  Then 
we  went  to  Mr.  Bell's  and  had  supper  there.  From 
there  we  went  to  Mr.  Wheeler's  and  stayed  all  night. 

August  31 — Went  to  Mr.  Watkin's,  took  dinner 
there,  and  stayed  all  day.  Had  a  very  pleasant  time 
with  his  daughter,  Miss  Annie. 

September  1 — To-day  we  went  on  a  general  hunt  in 
full  force.  We  went  into  a  house  where  we  sus- 
pected there  was  a  deserter.  We  hunted  through  all 
the  out-houses,  then  went  to  the  house,  and  the  lady 
stronglv  denied  there  being  any  one  there,  but  would 
[  45  ] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

not  give  us  permission  to  look.  We  then  searched  the 
house;  but  found  no  one.  I  then  proposed  that  we  go 
in  the  loft.  She  objected  again.  But  of  course  we 
were  determined.  It  was  pitch-dark  in  the  loft.  We 
called  in,  but  no  answer  came.  I  then  proposed,  in  a 
loud  voice,  so  that  if  any  one  was  there  they  could 
hear  me,  that  we  fix  bayonets  and  stick  around  and 
satisfy  ourselves  that  no  one  was  there.  Still  no  an- 
swer. I  then  got  in  the  loft,  took  my  gun  and  com- 
menced sticking  around.  At  last  an  answer  came 
from  the  far  corner  that  he  would  surrender.  The 
way  I  got  into  the  loft  was,  I  being  a  little  fellow, 
and  Si  Wolf  a  tall  man,  they  put  me  on  his  shoulder, 
and  in  that  way  I  crawled  in.  We  then  left  for 
camp,  passed  a  church,  and  was  in  time  to  see  a  wed- 
ding.   We  drilled  for  the  ladies,  and  had  a  good  time. 

September  2 — On  a  hunt  to-day  several  of  my  com- 
rades with  myself  came  to  a  house,  and  the  first  thing 
we  heard  was,  "Is  there  a  Jew  in  your  detachment 
that  caught  a  deserter  yesterday?"  They  would  like 
to  see  him,  etc.  At  last  one  of  the  boys  told  them 
that  I  was  the  Jew.  After  that  I  had  a  very  good 
time  there,  and  in  fact  wherever  I  went  I  was  re- 
ceived very  kindly,  and  was  very  sorry  to  see  on  the 
4th  that  orders  came  for  us  to  return  to  our  brigade. 

September  4 — Marched  to  Keswick,  and  found  that 
we  would  have  to  march  to  Gordonsville.  Got  there 
that  night.     Fifteen  miles  to-day. 

September  5 — Left  here  at  7,  got  to  brigade  at  10 
in  the  morning,  and  from  the  24th  of  last  month  up 
[46] 


Confederate  Soldier 

to  date  I  certainly  have  seen  the  best  time  since  the 
war. 

September  6 — Our  captain,  Harvey  White,  returned 
to  camp  yesterday  from  a  furlough. 

September  8 — We  are  getting  ready  for  a  corps 
review  for  to-morrow. 

September  9 — To-day  we  had  a  review.  Present : 
General  Lee,  General  Ewell,  General  Early,  General 
Johnson  and  General  Rodes,  of  our  corps,  and  Gen- 
eral Hill,  Gen.  J.  E.  B.  Stewart,  and  smaller  fry  of 
our  army.  It  was  certainly  a  grand  scene.  Nothing 
more  up  to  the  14th. 

September  14 — Left  camp  this  morning  at  7, 
marched  twelve  miles  and  halted.  Hear  firing  in  front 
on  the  Rapidan,  at  Summerville  Ford.  Here  all 
night. 

September  15 — Still  some  firing  in  front.  We  are 
in  reserve.  I  went  to  see  the  fight.  I  saw  the  enemy 
very  plainly,  and  thus  I  spent  my  New  Year's  Day. 

September  16 — To-day  there  was  a  man  shot  for  de- 
sertion. Eight  balls  passed  through  him.  The  way 
this  is  conducted  is :  the  brigade  that  he  belongs  to, 
or  sometimes  even  the  division,  is  drawn  up  in  full 
sight  of  the  doomed  man.  He  is  tied  to  a  stake  in 
front  of  his  grave,  which  is  already  dug,  and  his 
coffin  at  his  side.  There  is  a  squad  of  twelve  men 
and  one  officer  detailed  to  do  the  shooting.  Eleven 
of  the  guns  are  loaded.  The  guns  are  given  to  them 
by  the  officer,  so  that  no  man  knows  which  gun  is 
loaded.  The  order  is  then  given  to  fire.  Thus  ends 
[47] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

the  deserter's  life.  The  brigade,  or  division,  then 
marches  around  him,  so  that  every  man  can  see  bis, 
the  deserter's,  end. 

September  17 — Very  little  firing-  to-day. 

September  18 — Raining  hard  all  day,  and  no  tents. 
Left  camp  at  2  in  the  afternoon,  marched  six  miles, 
halted  at  the  river,  and  our  regiment  went  on  picket. 
It  is  still  raining  very  hard,  and  we  are  as  wet  as 
drowned  cats,  and  cold,  too,  for  we  cannot  make  a 
fire  in  front  of  the  enemy.  If  we  did  they  would 
have  a  good  mark  to  shoot  at. 

September  19 — We  are  at  Moulton's  Ford. 

September  20 — In  speaking  distance  of  the  Yan- 
kees. 

September  21 — Our  regiment  was  relieved  to-day 
by  the  3d  Alabama,  of  Battle's  Brigade. 

September  22 — I  spoke  and  exchanged  papers  with 
a  Yankee  of  the  7th  Ohio  Regiment. 

September  23 — Day  of  Atonement  to-day.  Noth- 
ing more  up  to  the  26th. 

September  26 — We  have  built  ourselves  cabins  in 
our  camps.     This  evening  we  went  on  picket. 

September  27 — The  Yankees  are  very  active  to- 
day.    Something  is  up. 

September  28 — Our  regiment  is  on  picket ;  will  be 
relieved  to-morrow. 

September  29 — All  quiet  to-day.  Brother  Morris 
returned  from  Richmond  yesterday,  where  he  has  been 
for  ten  days  on  a  furlough.  Before  our  Jewish  New 
[48] 


Confederate  Soldier 

Year  there  was  an  order  read  out  from  General  Lee  j 
granting  a  furlough  to  each  Israelite  to  go  to  Rich-  j 
mond  for  the  holidays  if  he  so  desired.    I  did  not  care 
to  go. 

September  30 — We  are  shooting  at  the  Yankees 
to-day  for  fun,  as  they  are  trying  to  steal  sheep  from 
the  houses  that  are  between  our  lines. 

October  1 — Went  on  picket  at  4  this  afternoon,  and 
was  roused  up  in  the  night  to  intercept  a  spy  who  is 
in  our  lines,  and  is  expecting  to  cross,  but  we  did  not 
see  him,  for  it  was  so  dark  we  could  see  nothing. 

October  2 — Relieved  to-day.  Very  wet  and  dis- 
agreeable weather.     Nothing  new  up  to  the  gth. 

October  9 — Left  camp  at  4  this  evening  and  halted 
on  the  morning  of  the  10th  at  1  o'clock,  when  we 
caught  up  with  our  brigade.  Marched  twelve  miles 
on  very  muddy  road,  and  fell  into  several  holes.  We 
left  again  very  early  this  morning  and  marched 
twenty  miles.  We  waded  the  Rapidan  to-day  at  Lib- 
erty Mills. 

October  11 — We  forded  Roberson  River,  and 
marched  up  and  down  hollows  without  singing  or 
making  any  noise,  so  that  the  enemy  could  not  see  or 
hear  us.  We  heard  firing  on  our  left.  We  are  eight 
miles  from  Culpepper  Court  House. 

October  12 — Started  at  daylight,  marched  twenty- 
five  miles,  waded  the  Hazel  River  at  10  this  morning. 
Had  to  take  off  our  shoes  and  pants,  according  to  or- 
ders. It  was  very  cold.  We  got  within  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  of  Jefferson  town,  when  the  fight  com- 
[49] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

menced.  We  drove  the  Yankees  through  town  double 
quick.  We  halted  one  mile  on  the  other  side  of  the 
town,  then  formed  in  line  of  battle  once  more  and 
went  forward.  We  drove  the  enemy  over  the  Rappa- 
hannock and  through  Warrington  Springs ;  took  300 
prisoners  and  halted  at  9  in  the  night. 

October  13 — Left  here  at  daylight,  marched 
through  Warrington,  a  very  handsome  place,  went 
two  miles  further  and  camped  for  the  night — seven 
miles. 

October  14 — My  corps  of  sharpshooters  marched 
in  front  of  the  line.  Left  camp  at  4  this  morning, 
and  at  daylight,  as  General  Ewell  and  staff  rode  up 
to  us,  there  was  a  volley  shot  at  us.  We  immediately 
deployed  and  after  the  enemy.  We  fought  on  a  run 
for  six  hours,  all  the  time  the  enemy  falling  back. 
They  at  one  time  raised  a  white  flag  and  surrendered. 
We  then  stopped  firing,  and  as  we  got  within  one  hun- 
dred feet  they  opened  on  us  again,  for  they  saw  we 
were  only  a  line  of  sharpshooters.  We  then  resumed 
firing  at  them.  I  captured  a  mail-bag  in  the  fight, 
and  in  several  letters  I  found  some  money.  We 
halted,  and  the  enemy  kept  on  running  like  wild 
ducks.  This  is  the  battle  of  Bristow  Station.  We 
took  many  prisoners.  As  we  got  through  fighting  we 
heard  firing  on  our  right.  We  marched  to  their  sup- 
port, but  when  we  got  there  the  firing  had  ceased. 
Twenty-five  miles  to-day.  We  camped  on  Manassas 
Plain.     Raining  hard  all  night. 

October  15 — Here  all  day,  and  talking  with  our 
prisoners. 

[50] 


Confederate  Soldier 

October  16 — Left  this  morning  at  4,  marched  five 
miles,  and  halted  on  the  Orange  and  Alexander  Rail- 
road, tore  it  up  one  and  a  quarter  miles,  and  camped. 

October  17 — Marched  four  miles  to-day  and  tore 
and  burned  up  the  same  amount  of  railroad. 

October  18 — Started  at  4  this  morning  and  marched 
ten  miles  toward  Culpepper  Court  House.  We  tore 
up  the  railroad  from  Manassas  to  the  Rappahannock 
River.  The  way  we  tear  up  railroads  is  this :  we  take 
the  cross-ties  and  make  a  square  of  them  as  high  as 
your  head.  We  place  the  rails  on  the  cross-ties,  then 
set  it  afire  and  the  rails  bend  double. 

October  19 — Left  at  4  this  morning,  crossed  the 
river  on  pontoon  bridges.  It  commenced  to  hail  and 
rain  very  hard,  and  kept  it  up  for  two  hours.  We  got 
very  wet.  Halted  at  Cedar  Run,  marched  ten  miles, 
and  stayed  here  until  the  21st. 

October  21 — We  were  sent  to  Kelly's  Ford  on 
picket. 

October  22 — Relieved  to-day.     It  was  bitter  cold. 

October  23 — We  commenced  putting  up  winter 
quarters,  and  were  hard  at  work  up  till  the  last  of 
this  month. 

November  1 — Moved  into  our  shanties  to-day. 
There  are  five  of  us  in  mine.  They  are  ten  feet 
square. 

November  3 — Went  on  picket  on  the  Rappahannock 
at  Norman's  Ford,  six  miles  from  camp. 

November  6 — Were  relieved  to-day. 

November  7 — To-day,  as  several  of  us  went  to  get 
[51] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

some  straw  near  Kelly's  Ford,  we  heard  firing,  and 
the  long  roll  beat.  Looking  up  we  saw  the  Yankees 
^crossing  the  river.  We  double-quicked  to  camp  and 
got  there  just  in  time  to  fall  in  with  our  regiment,  to 
intercept  the  enemy,  but  they  had  already  crossed  the 
river  before  we  got  there.  We  manceuvered  about 
until  dark,  when  my  corps  of  sharpshooters  was  or- 
dered out.  We  were  within  one  hundred  yards  of  the 
Yankees,  and  saw  them  around  their  fires  very  plainly. 
On  the  morning  of  the  8th  we  retreated  in  very  good 
order.  I  certainly  was  glad  of  it,  as  we  were  in  a 
very  bad  fix.  We  marched  until  sun-up  and  halted 
on  Stone  Mountain,  passed  through  Stevensburg. 
Stayed  here  all  night,  and  resumed  our  march  and 
halted  on  the  morning  of  the  9th.  We  then  crossed 
the  Rapidan  at  the  Raccoon  Ford,  and  are  now 
camped  at  our  old  camp  at  Moulton  Ford.  We 
marched,  since  leaving  Kelly's  Ford,  forty  miles.  The 
distance  is  only  seventeen  miles.  We  were  certainly 
surprised  for  the  first  time  since  the  war.  We  did  not 
dream  the  enemy  was  on  us  before  the  firing  com- 
menced. Our  brigade  was  cut  off  from  the  army 
twice,  but  our  General  Daniels  got  us  through  safe. 
Nothing  new  up  to  the  26th. 

November  26 — When  we  had  marched  seven  miles 
we  heard  cannonading.  The  enemy  is  trying  to  cross 
the  river  at  Jacob's  Ford,  but  our  boys  kept  them 
back.  We  laid  in  breastworks  of  our  own  make  until 
the  27th. 

November  27 — This  morning  we  marched  seven 
[52] 


Confederate  Soldier 

miles,  halted  a  short  time,  and  resumed  our  march. 
Got  three  miles  further,  and  firing  commenced  in  our 
front.  We  then  counter-marched  and  formed  in  line 
of  battle,  in  the  edge  of  the  woods.  One  corps  of 
sharpshooters  was  sent  out  to  find  the  enemy.  Fought 
the  enemy  one-half  hour  and  were  forced  back.  My 
corps  then  went  out  as  reinforcement.  We  fought 
then  for  four  hours,  and  were  called  back  to  our 
command.  I,  at  one  time  in  this  fight,  was  in  a  close 
place.  Being  in  front,  I  did  not  hear  the  order  to 
fall  back,  and  being  by  myself  was  left  a  target  for 
a  dozen  Yankees,  but  my  Captain  White  saw  what  a 
fix  I  was  in  and  sent  a  squad  of  our  company  to  my 
relief,  so  I  fell  back  with  them.  We  then,  that  night, 
went  to  Mine  Run  and  formed  our  line  of  battle 
there. 

November  28 — To-day  the  whole  army  is  throwing 
up  breastworks.  The  sharpshooters  are  out  in  front, 
my  corps  out  to-day.  We  made  ourselves  small  pits 
to  lay  in  as  a  protection  from  the  Yankee  bullets. 
These  pits  are  just  about  large  enough  to  hold  two 
or  three  men.  Pinkney  King,  Sam  Wilson  and  my- 
self are  in  one.  We  are  shooting  at  the  enemy  all 
day.  They  are  returning  the  compliment.  Late  this 
evening  we  saw  some  of  them  opposite  our  pits,  try- 
ing to  get  into  a  house.  We  jumped  out  of  our  pits 
and  fired  at  them  several  times,  when  poor  King  was 
shot  and  died  in  a  few  minutes.  Another  man  was 
sent  to  relieve  in  his  place,  and  we  held  our  position. 
The  other  corps  of  sharpshooters  fought  all  day. 
[53] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

November  29 — Ours  again  to-day,  but  not  as  hard 
as  before,  but  heavy  enough.     The   cannonading  is 
'getting  heavier. 

December  1 — The  other  corps  is  out  to-day.  The 
Yankees,  as  well  as  ourselves,  are  well  fortified,  and 
we  are  confronting  one  another. 

December  2 — This  morning  at  3  we  moved  to  the 
right  until  daylight,  when  our  corps  was  again  sent 
to  the  front.  We  advanced  toward  the  enemy's 
works.  We  moved,  of  course,  very  carefully,  as  we 
saw  their  breastworks,  and  in  front  of  us  two  cannon. 
When  we  got  in  shooting  range,  the  order  was  given 
to  "Charge !"  We  did  so  with  a  rebel  yell,  and  as  we 
got  upon  their  breastworks,  lo  and  behold,  there  were 
no  Yankees,  and  the  cannons  we  saw  were  nothing 
but  logs.  We  followed  them  to  the  river,  but  their 
whole  army  had  crossed.  We,  of  course,  captured  a 
great  many  of  their  sick  and  stragglers. 

December  3 — Marched  back  to  our  camp  at  Moul- 
ton's  Ford,  and  our  regiment  was  sent  on  picket  at 
Mitchell's  Ford,  seven  miles  from  camp.  This  has. 
been  a  very  severe  seven-days'  campaign,  as  we  fought 
mostly  all  the  time.  Cold,  sleety,  disagreeable 
weather,  and  we  dare  not  make  large  fires,  as  that 
would  be  a  sure  target  for  the  Yankees.  Mine  Run 
is  a  small  stream  on  the  Orange  and  Fredericksburg 
turnpike.  Nothing  more  worth  recording  up  to  the 
8th,  my  birthday,  and  spent  it  as  dull  as  could  be. 
Have  been  on  picket,  and  relieved  on  Dole's  Georgia 
Brigade.  Up  to  the  27th  nothing  doing. 
[54] 


Confederate  Soldier 

December  27 — We  moved  our  camps  from  our 
picket  posts  seven  miles  from  Orange  Court  House. 
On  the  turnpike  from  there  to  Fredericksburg,  and 
commenced  putting  up  winter  quarters.  On  the  31st 
moved  into  them,  and  for  the  first  time  in  a  year  or 
two  we  have  with  our  rations  some  coffee,  sugar  and 
dried  apples. 


[55] 


CHAPTER    III 
The  Year  1864 

January  8 — It  has  been  snowing,  and  is  very  cold. 
Some  of  the  boys  have  formed  a  dramatic  company, 
and  I  went  to  see  them  play  "Toodles."  There  were 
two  men  shot  in  our  brigade  for  desertion  to-day. 
Nothing  of  interest  until  nth. 

January  n — Left  our  camp  at  sun-up,  got  five 
miles  and  halted  in  the  woods.  We  have  been  detailed 
to  run  two  sawmills,  and  we  are  now  putting  up  win- 
ter quarters  there. 

January  16 — Nothing  more  until  to-day.  W.  R. 
Berryhill  has  got  the  smallpox.  Quite  a  number  of 
us  were  in  the  same  quarters  with  him,  but  none  of  us 
caught  the  disease.  I  was  detailed  to  work  at  the 
mills,  and  therefore  I  am  learning  a  new  trade.  Live 
and  learn. 

January  20 — Hard  work  until  to-day,  when  we  were 
sent  out  to  lay  a  plank  road.  While  at  work  General 
Lee  and  his  daughter  rode  by  us,  and  soon  after  a 
courier  came  from  his  headquarters  and  gave  us  some 
woolen  socks  and  gloves — sent  to  us  from  his  daugh- 
ter.    Nothing  more  worth  recording  this  month. 

Februarv  2 — While  hard  at  work  in  the  woods, 
[56] 


Confederate  Soldier 

"hauling  stocks  for  the  mill,  my  furlough  came,  for 
eighteen  days.  So  I  was  relieved.  On  the  3d  I  left 
camp  and  got  home  on  the  morning  of  the  6th.  It 
took  me  several  days  to  get  accustomed  to  living  as  a 
civilian,  as  I  have  been  in  camp  for  two  years  at  a 
stretch.  I  had  a  very  good  time,  and  will  always  be 
grateful  for  the  kindness  shown  me  by  every  one 
while  at  home. 

February  23 — Reached  camp  to-day,  and  found  that 
my  regiment  had  marched  once  since  I  left.  This  was 
the  first  I  missed  since  my  regiment  was  formed. 
Nothing  more  this  month. 

March  1 — Raining  hard.  Left  camp  at  9  this  morn- 
ing, halted  at  dark  nine  miles  from  Madison  Court 
House.  Snowing  to-night.  We  had  a  hard  road  to 
travel,  and  when  we  got  to  our  destination  the  enemy 
had  gone. 

March  2 — Started  back  to  camp.  The  weather  was 
clear  and  cold.  Got  there  at  7  in  the  evening,  and  I 
stiff  from  walking.  We  marched  eighteen  miles  to- 
day. 

March  3 — Left  camp  at  8  this  morning  to  inter- 
cept General  Kilpatrick,  who  is  scouting  in  our  lines. 
We  formed  in  line  of  battle,  had  all  the  roads  guarded, 
when  we  found  out  that  he  was  already  on  his  way 
to  the  peninsula,  so  we  returned  to  camp.  Twenty 
miles  to-day. 

March  4 — I  am  as  stiff  as  an  old  man  this  morn- 
ing from  yesterday's  march  on  the  plank  road. 
[  57  ] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

March  5 — We  left  the  mills  this  morning-  and  re- 
turned to  our  brigade,  a  distance  of  five  miles.  Noth- 
ing more  up  to  the  17th. 

March  17 — An  order  was  read  out  at  dress  parade 
that  all  troops  in  the  army  would  be  held  until  the 
end  of  the  war.  This  was  nothing  of  importance  to 
us,  as  we  enlisted  for  that  time.  It  is  raining  and 
snowing  very  hard,  and  almost  every  day.  Our  regi- 
ment is  not  in  winter  quarters,  for  we  expect  to  move 
when  the  bad  weather  stops.  We  had  a  snowball 
fight — our  regiment  with  the  43d  North  Carolina. 
Then  our  brigade  with  Battle's  Brigade.  It  was  lots 
of  fun.     Nothing  more  until  the  26th. 

March  26 — We  were  visited  to-day  by  our  Gov- 
ernor, Zeb  Vance,  who  made  us  a  speech  of  two  and 
a  half  hour's  duration.  With  him  on  the  platform 
was  General  Lee,  General  Ewell  and  several  others. 

March  28 — We  were  reviewed  to-day  by  our  Gov- 
ernor. When  I  say  reviewed,  I  mean  all  the  North 
Carolina  troops  in  our  corps.  After  the  review  we 
went  to  Ramseur's  Brigade,  where  he  spoke  again. 
So  did  Generals  Early,  Rodes  and  Stewart.  That  is 
all  that  is  worth  recording  this  month. 

April  1 — Left  camp  at  8  this  morning  to  go  on 
picket  twelve  miles  from  our  camp.  Our  brigade 
went  on  picket  at  Raccoon  Ford,  and  picketed  up  to 
Moulton's  Ford.  Raining  hard  to-day,  also  on  the 
2d.     The  river  is  ten  feet  above  common  watermark. 

April  3 — As'  I  have  not  heard  from  my  parents 
since  the  war.  they  living  in  New  York,  I  thought  I 
[58] 


Confederate  Soldier 

would  send  a  personal  advertisement  to  a  New  York 
paper  to  let  them  know  that  my  brother  and  myself 
are  well,  and  for  them  to  send  an  answer  through 
the  Richmond  paper.  I  gave  this  to  a  Yankee  picket, 
who  promised  me  he  would  send  it  to  New  York. 
Nothing  more  up  to  the  7th. 

April  7 — This  is  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  set 
apart  by  President  Davis. 

April  9 — Were  relieved  to-day  by  Doles'  Georgia 
Brigade.  Got  to  camp  at  1  in  the  evening,  raining 
very  hard  all  day.     Nothing  more  up  to  the   14th. 

April  14 — I  went  to  A.  P.  Hill's  corps  to  visit  my 
friend,  Lieutenant  Rusler,  and  returned  to  camp  on 
the  15th. 

April  15 — Nothing  more  up  to  the  18th. 

April  18 — Our  corps  of  sharpshooters  went  out  to- 
day target  practising.  We  shoot  a  distance  of  500 
yards  offhand.     Some  very  good  shooting  was  done. 

April  20 — I  hit  the  bull's-eye  to-day.  We  are  prac- 
tising every  day  up  to  the  23d. 

April  23 — Went  to  Moulton's  Ford,  met  Stone- 
wall Brigade  on  our  way,  and  had  some  lively  talk 
with  them,  all  in  fun,  of  course.  Stayed  on  picket 
until  30th,  then  we  were  relieved  at  1 1  in  the  morning, 
and  reached  camp  at  2. 

May  1 — Rumors  are  flying  that  we  will  soon  get 
hard  fighting.     Nothing  more  up  to  the  4th. 

May  4 — This  morning  we  got  orders  to  be  ready  at 
a  moment's  notice.  Broke  camp  at  noon,  marched  to 
[59] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

our  old  breastworks  at  Mine  Run,  seven  miles  from 
camp.  Rested  two  hours,  and  moved  forward  toward 
the  river  three  miles  further  and  halted. 

May  5 — Moved  this  morning,  feeling  for  the  enemy, 
and  came  up  to  them  at  noon,  five  miles  from  the  Run, 
in  the  Wilderness.  It  certainly  is  a  wilderness ;  it  is 
almost  impossible  for  a  man  to  walk,  as  the  woods  are 
thick  with  an  underbrush  growth  and  all  kinds  of 
shrubbery,  old  logs,  grapevines,  and  goodness  knows 
what.  My  corps  of  sharpshooters  was  ordered  to  the 
front.  We  formed  in  line  and  advanced  to  the  enemy. 
We  fought  them  very  hard  for  three  hours,  they  fall- 
ing back  all  the  time.  Our  sharpshooters'  line  got 
mixed  up  with  Gordon's  Brigade,  and  fought  with 
them.  In  one  charge  we  got  to  the  most  elevated 
place  in  the  Wilderness.  We  looked  back  for  our  bri- 
gade, but  saw  it  not.  Just  then  a  Yankee  officer 
came  up  and  we  took  him  prisoner.  Some  of  Gor- 
don's men  took  him  to  the  rear.  Six  of  our  regiment, 
sharpshooters,  myself  included,  went  to  the  right  to 
join  our  regiment,  but  were  picked  up  by  the  Yankees 
and  made  prisoners.  We  were  run  back  in  their  line 
on  the  double  quick.  When  we  got  to  their  rear  we 
found  about  300  of  our  men  were  already  prisoners. 
The  Yankees  lost  very  heavily  in  this  fight,  more  than 
we  did.  Although  we  lost  heavy  enough,  but,  my 
Heavens !  what  an  army  they  have  got.  It  seems  to 
me  that  there  is  ten  of  them  to  one  of  us.  It  looks 
strange  that  we  could  deliver  such  fearful  blows, 
when,  in  fact,  if  numbers  counted,  they  should  have 
[60] 


Confederate  Soldier 

killed  us  two  years  ago.  In  going  to  their  rear  we 
passed  through  four  lines  of  battle  and  reinforce- 
ments still  coming  up,  while  we  are  satisfied  with,  or 
at  least  have  no  more  than  one  line  of  battle. 

May  6 — Fighting  commenced  at  daylight,  and  lasted 
all  day.  So  did  it  last  with  their  everlasting  rein- 
forcements. If  General  Lee  only  had  half  their  menr 
and  those  men  were  rebels,  we  would  go  to  Wash- 
ington in  two  weeks.  When  he  has  fought  such  an 
army  for  four  years  it  certainly  shows  we  have  the 
generals  and  the  fighting-stock  on  our  side,  and  they 
have  the  hirelings.  Look  at  our  army,  and  you  will 
see  them  in  rags  and  barefooted.  But  among  the 
Yankees  I  see  nothing  but  an  abundance  of  every- 
thing. Still,  they  haven't  whipped  the  rebels.  Sev- 
eral of  our  boys  came  in  as  prisoners  to-day,  with 
them  Engle  of  our  company.  They  think  I  was  killed, 
so  does  my  brother,  but  as  yet  the  bullet  has  not  done 
its  last  work  for  your  humble  servant. 

May  7 — We  are  still  penned  up  as  prisoners  in  the 
rear  of  the  army,  close  by  General  Grant's  headquar- 
ters. A  great  many  prisoners  came  in  to-day.  From 
some  of  them  I  heard  that  my  brother  was  well. 

May  8 — We  left  this  place  at  dark  last  night,  but 
only  got  a  distance  of  two  miles,  and  it  took  us  until 
9  in  the  morning  of  the  9th. 

May  9 — Started  again  this  morning,  and  passed  over 

the  Chancellorsville  battlefield.    Marched  twelve  miles 

to-day.    We  passed  a  brigade  of  negro  troops.    They 

gave   us  a  terrible  cursing,   and  hollered  "Fort   Pil- 

[61] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

low"  at  us.  I  am  only  sorry  that  this  brigade  of  ne- 
groes was  not  there,  then  they  certainly  would  not 
curse  us  now.  We  halted  at  dark  on  the  plank  road 
seven  miles  from  Fredericksburg. 

May  10 — Fighting  to-day  at  Spottsylvania  Court 
House.  Prisoners  still  coming  in,  two  more  from  my 
company. 

May  ii — This  morning  about  800  more  prisoners 
came  in.  Most  of  them  were  from  my  brigade,  as 
well  as  from  Dole's  Georgians.  I  was  surprised  to 
see  my  brother  with  them.  He  was  taken  yesterday, 
but  before  he  surrendered  he  sent  two  of  the  enemy 
to  their  long  home  with  his  bayonet. 

May  12 — Raining  hard  all  day,  and  fighting  all  last 
night.  About  2  o'clock  this  afternoon  about  2,000 
prisoners  came  in,  with  them  Major-General  John- 
son and  Brigadier-General  Stewart.  We  have  moved 
four  miles  nearer  to  Fredericksburg.  I  suppose  they 
think  we  are  too  close  to  our  own  lines,  and  they 
are  afraid  we  will  be  recaptured,  as  it  was  a  few  days 
ago.  We  heard  our  boys',  or,  as  the  Yankees  call  it, 
the  Rebel  yell.  We  prisoners  also  gave  the  Rebel 
yell.  A  few  minutes  after  that  they  brought  cannon 
to  bear  on  us,  and  we  were  told  to  stop,  or  they 
would  open  on  us.     We  stopped. 

May  13 — Left  here  this  morning  and  passed 
through  Fredericksburg.  Crossed  the  Rappahannock 
on  pontoon  bridges,  and  got  to  Belle  Plain  on  the 
Potomac  at  3  o'clock — nineteen  miles  to-day.  It 
rained  all  day,  and  it  is  very  muddy. 
[62] 


Confederate  Soldier 

May  14 — We  are  still  camped  here.  Have  been 
prisoners  since  the  5th  of  this  month,  and  have  drawn 
three  and  a  half  days'  rations.  On  that  kind  of  a  diet 
I  am  not  getting  very  fat.  We  certainly  would  have 
suffered  a  great  deal,  but  our  Yankee  guard  gave  us 
quite  a  lot  of  their  own  rations. 

May  15 — Still  here.  They  are  fighting  very  hard 
on  the  front. 

May  16 — Left  this  morning  at  11  in  a  tugboat,  and 
from  here  packed  into  the  Steamer  S.  R.  Spaulding. 
We  are  now  on  our  way  to  a  regular  prison.  We 
got  there  at  8  o'clock  to-night,  and  found  it  to  be 
Point  Lookout,  Md.,  fifty  miles  from  Belle  Plain.  It 
is  in  St.  Mary's  County.  We  were  drawn  up  in  line, 
searched  for  valuables,  and  they  taken  from  us,  and 
marched  to  prison,  one  mile  from  the  landing.  There 
are  sixteen  men  in  each  tent. 

May  17 — Saw  Mack  Sample,  Will  Stone  and  sev- 
eral of  our  company  to-day  that  have  been  prisoners 
since  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  We  get  two  meals  a 
day. 

May  18 — We  are  divided  in  divisions  and  com- 
panies. There  is  a  thousand  in  each  division  and  one 
hundred  in  each  company.  A  sergeant  commands  each 
company.  We  get  light  bread  one  day  and  crackers 
the  other. 

May  19 — Saw  Darnell,  of  my  company,  to-day.    He 

was   just  from  the   front.     He  brings   us  very  bad 

news.    Our  General  Daniels  was  killed,  which  is  cer- 

tainlv  a  great  loss  to  us,  for  he  was  a  good  and  brave 

[63] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

man,  also  our  major  of  the  53d,  Iredell,  and  my  cap- 
tain, White,  all  killed.  Colonel  Owens,  my  colonel, 
was  mortally  wounded,  and  quite  a  number  of  my 
company  were  killed  and  wounded.  He  says  there  is 
only  seven  of  our  company  left,  and  that  our  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Morehead  is  commanding  Daniels'  Bri- 
gade. 

May  20 — Three  years  ago  to-day  the  Old  North 
State  left  the  Union,  and  we  went  to  the  front  full  of 
hopes  to  speedily  show  the  Yankee  Government  that 
the  South  had  a  right  to  leave  the  Union ;  but  to-day, 
how  dark  it  looks ! 

May  21 — I  heard  to-day  that  my  brother  Morris 
was  a  prisoner  at  Fort  Delaware,  Pa.  I  asked  for  a 
parole  to-day  to  go  and  see  my  parents  in  New  York, 
but  they  could  not  see  it. 

May  22 — Nothing  new  from  the  front. 

May  23 — We  are  guarded  by  negro  troops,  who  are 
as  mean  as  hell.  At  each  meal  there  is  a  guard  placed 
over  500  prisoners,  who  go  to  their  meals  in  ranks 
of  four.  We  are  not  allowed  to  cross  a  certain  line, 
called  the  "Dead  Line,"  but  as  500  men  go  at  one 
time  to  meals,  of  course  near  the  door  there  is  always 
a  rush.  To-day  one  of  our  men  accidentally  crossed 
the  line.  He  was  pushed  over  by  the  crowd,  when 
a  black  devil  shot  and  killed  him,  and  wounded  two 
others. 

May  24 — One  of  yesterday's  wounded  died  to-day. 
This  negro  company  was  taken  away  to-day,  as  there 
[  64  ] 


Confederate  Soldier 

is  no  telling  what  even  men  without  arms  will  do  to 
such  devils,  although  they  have  got  guns. 

May  25 — Engle  received  a  letter  from  his  father  to- 
day, who  told  him  they  had  seen  my  parents,  and  I 
would  hear  from  them  soon.  This  is  the  first  time 
that  I  have  heard  about  my  parents  since  the  com- 
mencement of  the  war.  Thank  God,  my  parents,  as 
well  as  my  sisters  and  brothers,  are  well. 
'  May  26 — Received  two  letters  to-day,  one  from 
home  and  one  from  my  brother  Pincus,  who  went  to 
Washington  on  his  way  to  visit  Morris  and  myself, 
as  he  has  to  get  a  pass  from  headquarters  before  he 
can  see  us.  He  was  refused  and  returned  home.  Our 
daily  labor  as  prisoners  is  that  at  5  in  the  morning 
we  have  roll  call;  6,  breakfast,  500  at  a  time,  as  one 
lot  gets  through  another  takes  its  place,  until  four 
lots  have  eaten ;  we  then  stroll  about  the  prison  un- 
til 1  o'clock,  when  we  eat  dinner  in  the  same  style 
as  breakfast,  then  loaf  about  again  until  sundown. 
Roll  is  called  again,  thus  ending  the  day.  We  get  for 
breakfast  five  crackers  with  worms  in  them ;  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  butter,  a  small  piece  of  pork,  and  a  tin 
cup  full  of  coffee ;  dinner,  four  of  the  above  crack- 
ers, a  quarter  of  a  pound  mule  meat  and  a  cup  of  bean 
soup,  and  every  fourth  day  an  eight-ounce  loaf  of 
white  bread.     Nothing  more  this  month. 

June  8 — There  is  nothing  new  up  to  to-day,  when  I 

received  a  box  of  eatables,  one  or  two  shirts,  and  one 

pair  of  pants  from  home.     The  only  way  we  can  pass 

our  time  off  is  playing  cards  and  chess.     Six  hundred 

"    [65] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

prisoners  came  in  to-day,  with  them  a  lady,  who  is  an 
artillery  sergeant.  Being  questioned  by  the  provost 
marshal,  she  said  she  could  straddle  a  horse,  jump  a 
fence  and  kill  a  Yankee  as  well  as  any  rebel.  As 
time  in  prison  is  very  dull  and  always  the  same  thing 
as  the  day  preceding,  I  shall  not  mention  each  day, 
but  only  those  days  upon  which  something  happened. 

June  ii — Five  hundred  more  prisoners  came  in  to- 
day. 

June  12 — To-day,  as  the  negro  guard  was  relieved, 
two  of  them  commenced  playing  with  their  guns  and 
bayonets,  sticking  at  one  another.  Fortunately  one 
of  their  guns,  by  accident,  went  off  and  made  a  hole 
in  the  other  one's  body,  which  killed  him  instantly. 
The  other  one  kicked  at  him  several  times,  telling 
him  to  get  up  as  the  rebels  were  laughing  at  him,  but 
in  a  very  short  time  he  found  out  that  he  had  killed 
his  comrade  and  that  we  were  laughing  sure  enough. 

June  27 — Received  money  to-day  from  home,  but 
they  gave  me  sutler's  checks  for  it,  as  we  were  not 
allowed  any  money,  for  fear  we  would  bribe  the  sen- 
tinels and  make  our  escape. 

July  4 — Four  hundred  prisoners  left  here  for  some 
other  prison,  as  there  were  too  many  here. 

July  8 — Engle,  Riter  and  myself  received  boxes 
from  New  York  to-day,  but  as  Riter  has  gone  to  the 
other  prison  with  the  400  we  have  made  away  with 
his  box. 

Julv  23 — Three  hundred  more  were  sent  from  here 
[66] 


Confederate  Soldier 

to  the  new  prison,  which  is  in  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  myself 
with  them. 

July  25 — Left  Point  Lookout  at  8  o'clock  this  eve- 
ning in  the  frigate  Victor  for  New  York.  There  are 
700  prisoners  on  board. 

July  26 — To-day  on  the  ocean  a  great  many  of  our 
boys  were  seasick,  but  not  I.  I  was  promised  a  guard 
to  take  me  to  see  my  parents  in  New  York  for  thirty 
minutes. 

July  27 — We  see  the  Jersey  shore  this  morning. 
Our  vessel  was  racing  with  another.  We  had  too 
much  steam  up;  the  consequence  was  a  fire  on  board, 
but  we  soon  had  it  out.  We  landed  at  Jersey  City  at 
12  M.,  and  were  immediately  put  in  cars,  and  the 
officer  that  promised  to  send  me  to  my  parents  re- 
fused to  do  so.  We  left  here  at  1,  got  to  Elmira  at 
8  in  the  evening. 

July  28 — We  were  treated  very  good  on  the  road, 
and  especially  at  Goshen,  N.  Y.  The  ladies  gave  us 
eatables  and  the  men  gave  us  tobacco. 

July  29 — There  are  at  present  some  3,000  prisoners 
here.  I  like  this  place  better  than  Point  Lookout. 
We  are  fenced  in  by  a  high  fence,  in,  I  judge,  a  200- 
acre  lot.  There  is  an  observatory  outside,  and  some 
Yankee  is  making  money,  as  he  charges  ten  cents  for 
every  one  that  wishes  to  see  the  rebels. 

August — Nothing  worth  recording  this  month,  ex- 
cept that  the  fare  is  the  same  as  at  Point  Lookout. 

September — It  is  very  cold,  worse  than  I  have  seen 
it  in  the  South  in  the  dead  of  winter. 
[67] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

October — We  have  got  the  smallpox  in  prison,  and 
.from  six  to  twelve  are  taken  out  dead  daily.  We  can 
buy  from  prisoners  rats,  25  cents  each,  killed  and 
dressed.  Quite  a  number  of  our  boys  have  gone  into 
—  the  rat  business.  On  the  nth  of  this  month  there 
were  800  sick  prisoners  sent  South  on  parole. 

November  and  December — Nothing,  only  bitter 
cold.  We  dance  every  night  at  some  of  our  qua.ters. 
Some  of  the  men  put  a  white  handkerchief  around 
one  of  their  arms,  and  these  act  as  the  ladies.  We 
have  a  jolly  good  time. 


[68] 


CHAPTER   IV 
The  Year  1865 

January — Nothing,  only  that  I  fear  that  our  cause 
is  lost,  as  we  are  losing  heavily,  and  have  no  more 
men  at  home  to  come  to  the  army.  Our  resources 
in  everything  are  at  an  end,  while  the  enemy  are 
seemingly  stronger  than  ever.  All  the  prisoners  in 
Northern  prisons,  it  seems,  will  have  to  stay  until  the 
°end  of  the  war,  as  Grant  would  rather  feed  than 
fight  us. 

February — The  smallpox  is  frightful.  There  is  not 
a  day  that  at  least  twenty  men  are  taken  out  dead. 
Cold  is  no  name  for  the  weather  now.  They  have 
given  most  of  us  Yankee  overcoats,  but  have  cut  the 
skirts  off.  The  reason  of  this  is  that  the  skirts  are 
long  and  if  they  left  them  on  we  might  pass  out  as 
Yankee  soldiers. 

March — Nothing  new.  It  is  the  same  gloomy  and 
•discouraging  news  from  the  South,  and  gloomy  and 
•discouraging  in  prison. 

April — I  suppose  the  end  is  near,  for  there  is  no 
more  hope  for  the  South  to  gain  her  independence. 
On  the  10th  of  this  month  we  were  told  by  an  officer 
[69] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

that  all  those  who  wished  to  get  out  of  prison  by  tak- 
ing the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United  States  could 
do  so  in  a  very  few  days.  There  was  quite  a  consul- 
tation among  the  prisoners.  On  the  morning  of  the 
12th  we  heard  that  Lee  had  surrendered  on  the  9th, 
and  about  400,  myself  with  them,  took  the  cursed  oath 
and  were  given  transportation  to  wherever  we  wanted 
to  go.  I  took  mine  to  New  York  City  to  my  parents, 
whom  I  have  not  seen  since  1858.  Our  cause  is  lost;, 
our  comrades  who  have  given  their  lives  for  the  in- 
dependence of  the  South  have  died  in  vain ;  that  is, 
the  cause  for  which  they  gave  their  lives  is  lost,  but 
they  positively  did  not  give  their  lives  in  vain.  They 
gave  it  for  a  most  righteous  cause,  even  if  the  Cause- 
was  lost.  Those  that  remain  to  see  the  end  for  which 
they  fought — what  have  we  left?  Our  sufferings  and. 
privations  would  be  nothing  had  the  end  been  other- 
wise, for  we  have  suffered  hunger,  been  without  suffi- 
cient clothing,  barefooted,  lousy,  and  have  suffered 
more  than  any  one  can  believe,  except  soldiers  of  the 
Southern  Confederacy.  And  the  end  of  all  is  a  deso- 
lated home  to  go  to.  When  I  commenced  this  diary 
of  my  life  as  a  Confederate  soldier  I  was  full  of  hope 
for  the  speedy  termination  of  the  war,  and  our  inde- 
pendence. I  was  not  quite  nineteen  years  old.  I  am 
now  twenty-three.  The  four  years  that  I  have  given 
to  my  country  I  do  not  regret,  nor  am  I  sorry  for  one 
day  that  I  have  given — my  only  regret  is  that  we  have 
lost  that  for  which  we  fought.  Nor  do  I  for  one- 
moment  think  that  we  lost  it  by  any  other  way  than 
[70]    ' 


Confederate  Soldier 

by  being  outnumbered  at  least  five  if  not  ten  to  one. 
The  world  was  open  to  the  enemy,  but  shut  out  to 
us.  I  shall  now  close  this  diary  in  sorrow,  but  to  the 
last  I  will  say  that,  although  but  a  private,  I  still  say 
our  Cause  was  just,  nor  do  I  regret  one  thing  that  I 
have  done  to  cripple  the  North. 


The  following  sketch  is  taken  from  Clark's  "His- 
tory of  the  War,"  written  by  my  Colonel  Morehead. 
This  gives  the  endurance  of  my  company,  regiment 
and  brigade  after  I  was  captured. 


[71] 


CHAPTER   V 

History  of  the  Fifty-third  Regiment  from 
May  5,  1864 

(Taken  from  Col.  James  T.  Morehead's  History  of 
the  Regiment) 

On  the  5th  or  6th  of  May,  1864,  the  sharpshoot- 
ers of  this  regiment  were  much  annoyed  by  one  of 
the  Federal  sharpshooters,  who  had  a  long-range  rifle 
and  who  had  climbed  up  a  tall  tree  from  which  he 
could  pick  off  our  men,  though  sheltered  by  stump 
and  stones,  himself  out  of  range  of  our  guns.  Pri- 
vate Leon,  of  Company  B  (Mecklenburg),  concluded 
that  this  thing  would  have  to  stop,  and  taking  advan- 
tage of  every  knoll,  hollow,  and  stump,  he  crawled 
near  enough  for  his  rifle  to  reach,  took  a  pop  at  this 
disturber  of  the  peace,  and  he  came  tumbling  down. 
Upon  running  up  to  his  victim,  Leon  discovered  him 
to  be  a  Canadian  Indian,  and  clutching  his  scalp- 
lock,  dragged  him  to  our  line  of  sharpshooters. 

The  regiment  was  at  Lynchburg  when  the  pursuit 

of  Hunter  began.     Marching  with  General  Early  to 

Washington,  D.  C,  was  one  of  the  regiments  left  to 

support  the  picket  line  under  the  walls  of  Washing- 

[72] 


Confederate  Soldier 

ton,  while  the  rest  of  the  corps  made  good  its  retreat 
to  the  valley — the  Nineteenth  and  Sixth  Corps  of 
the  Federal  army  having  been  poured  into  the  city 
for  its  defense.  While  supporting  the  pickets,  this 
regiment  became  involved  in  one  of  the  hottest  con- 
flicts in  its  experience,  but  succeeded  in  holding  its 
position,  repulsing  and  driving  the  enemy  back  to  the 
earthworks  which  defended  the  city.  At  midnight  it 
received  orders  to  retire  in  perfect  silence,  and  to  the 
surprise  of  all,  when  we  reached  the  position  on  the 
hills  near  the  city,  where  we  had  left  the  corps,  it 
was  ascertained  that  the  corps  had  left  the  night  be- 
fore, twenty-four  hours — and  we  marched  the  whole 
night  and  the  greater  part  of  the  next  day  before  we 
caught  up  with  the  rear  guards.  Early's  ruse,  as 
usual,  had  succeeded  in  deceiving  the  enemy. 

This  regiment  participated  in  all  the  battles  in  the 
Valley  in  1864,  and  in  numerous  combats  and  skir- 
mishes. In  this  Valley  campaign  the  regiment  lost 
its  gallant  Colonel  Owens,  who  died  at  Snicker's 
Ford,  near  Snicker's  Gap,  in  August,  1864.  He  had 
been  absent  since  the  10th  of  May,  disabled  by  wounds 
at  Spottsylvania  Court  House;  had  returned  just  as 
the  regiment  was  eating  dinner,  and  almost  while  we 
were  congratulating  him  on  his  safe  return  we  re- 
ceived notice  that  the  enemy  had  crossed  the  river  at 
Snicker's  Ford.  The  order  to  "fall  in"  was  given, 
we  marched  to  the  river,  and  drove  the  enemy  across, 
after  a  short  but  severe  conflict.  The  firing  had  ceased,, 
excepting  now  and  then  a  dropping  shot,  when  Col- 
[73] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

onel  Owens  was  killed  by  one  of  these  stray  shots. 
He  was  a  good  officer,  brave,  humane,  social,  popu- 
lar with  both  men  and  officers.  He  was  succeeded  by 
the  writer  as  Colonel.  At  Winchester,  on  19th  Sep- 
tember, 1864,  Adjutant  Osborne  was  killed.  Two 
years  ago,  Color  Sergeant  Taylor,  of  Company  E, 
Surry  County,  who  had  resided  in  Utah  since  1866, 
visited  me.  He  received  a  ball  in  his  hip,  from  which 
wound  he  still  limps,  and  in  talking  about  his  own 
wound,  he  told  me  as  we  were  charging  the  third 
Federal  line  at  Winchester,  having  broken  the  first 
two,  and  when  near  the  temporary  breastwork  of  the 
enemy  he  received  the  shot  which  disabled  him  for 
life,  and  that,  as  he  fell,  young  Osborne  picked  up 
the  flag,  and  waving  it,  ran  forward,  cheering  on  the 
men,  and  was  killed  within  twenty  feet  of  the  color 
sergeant.  He  was  an  efficient  officer  and  daring  sol- 
dier, I  suppose  not  older  than  twenty  years.  Lieut. 
W.  R.  Murray,  of  Company  A,  than  whom  there  was 
not  a  better  officer  or  braver  soldier  in  the  "Old 
Guard"  of  Napoleon,  acted  as  adjutant  after  the  death 
of  Osborne  till  the  surrender  of  Appomattox. 

As  stated  before,  Major  Iredell,  a  true  gentleman 
and  brave  soldier,  was  killed  at  Spottsylvania  Court 
House.  Capt.  John  W.  Rierson  succeeded  him.  At 
Winchester,  finding  that  there  was  a  gap  of  two  or 
three  hundred  yards  between  my  left  and  the  troops 
on  the  left,  and  that  the  enemy  had  discovered  and 
were  preparing  to  take  advantage  of  it,  I  directed 
Major  Rierson  to  find  General  Grimes  on  the  right  of 
[74] 


Confederate  Soldier 

the  division  (General  Rodes  had  been  killed  in  the 
beginning  of  the  action),  and  apprise  him  of  the  sit- 
uation. After  some  time  he  returned,  saluted,  and  re- 
ported, the  fighting  being  very  heavy  all  the  time, 
when  I  discovered  that  Major  Rierson  was  shot 
through  the  neck,  which  wound  was  received  before 
he  found  General  Grimes,  but  he  nevertheless  per- 
formed the  duty,  returned,  and  reported,  and  did  not 
then  go  to  the  rear  until  I  directed  him  to  do  so. 
This  gallant  officer  was  killed  when  the  enemy  broke 
over  our  lines  at  Petersburg,  a  few  days  before  Ap- 
pomattox. He  was  entitled  to  his  commission  as 
lieutenant-colonel  from  the  date  of  the  battle  of 
Snicker's  Ford,  but  I  do  not  know  that  he  received  it. 

This  was  a  volunteer  regiment,  enlisted  in  the  lat- 
ter part  of  the  winter  and  first  part  of  the  spring  of 
1862,  and  was  organized  at  Camp  Mangum,  near 
Raleigh,  the  first  week  in  May,  1862,  and  assigned 
to  Daniels'  Brigade  (Rodes'  Division).  William  A. 
Owens,  of  Mecklenburg  County,  was  elected  colonel; 
James  T.  Morehead,  of  Guilford  County,  lieutenant- 
colonel,  and  James  Johnson  Iredell,  of  Wake  County, 
major. 

Colonel  Owens  had  already  been  in  service  more 
than  one  year,  having  served  as  captain  in  the  First 
(Bethel)  Regiment,  and  at  the  time  of  his  election 
was  lieutenant-colonel  of  the   Eleventh  Regiment. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Morehead  had  also  been  in  the 
service  the  year  before,  having  entered  the  same  in 
April,  1861,  as  lieutenant  of  the  "Guilford  Grays" 
[75] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

(afterward  Company  B  of  the  Twenty-seventh  Regi- 
ment), and  at  the  time  of  his  election  was  a  captain  in 
the  Forty-fifth  Regiment. 

William  B.  Osborne,  of  Mecklenburg  County,  was 
appointed  captain  and  assistant  quartermaster.  He  re- 
signed in  the  fall  of  1862,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Capt.  John  B.  Burwell.  J.  F.  Long  was  appointed 
surgeon;  Lauriston  H.  Hill,  of  Stokes  County,  as- 
sistant surgeon,  and  promoted  surgeon  in  1863.  Wil- 
liam Hill,  of  Mecklenburg,  was  appointed  Captain 
A.  C.  S.  In  1863,  Charles  Gresham,  of  Virginia,  was 
assigned  to  duty  with  this  regiment  as  assistant  sur- 
geon. James  H.  Colton,  of  Randolph  County,  was 
appointed  chaplain ; .  J.  H.  Owens,  sergeant-major 
(promoted  second  lieutenant  of  Company  I  and 
killed);  R.  B.  Burwell,  quartermaster-sergeant;  J.  C. 
Palmer,  commissary  sergeant;  R.  S.  Barnett,  ord- 
nance sergeant.  Upon  the  promotion  of  J.  H.  Owens, 
Aaron  Katz,  of  Company  B,  succeeded  him  as  ser- 
geant-major, and  upon  his  being  captured,  Robert  A. 
Fleming,  of  Company  A,  was  sergeant-major. 

Company  A  was  from  Guilford  County.  A.  P.  Mc- 
Daniel  was  its  first  captain,  commissioned  February 
25,  1862,  and  upon  his  retirement  in  1863,  Lieut.  J.  M. 
Sutton  was  promoted  captain  and  wounted  at  Beth- 
esda  Church,  and  on  September  21,  1864,  in  the  Val- 
ley, and  captured  at  Petersburg;  P.  W.  Haterick: 
(killed  at  Gettysburg),  first  lieutenant;  J.  M.  Sutton, 
second  lieutenant;  W.  L.  Flemming,  promoted  from 
sergeant  to  second  lieutenant  in  1863 ;  J.  W.  Scott,. 
[76] 


Confederate  Soldier 

promoted  second  lieutenant  from  sergeant  (chief  of 
regimental  corps  of  sharpshooters). 

Company  B  was  from  Mecklenburg  County,  and 
its  first  captain  was  J.  Harvey  White,  commissioned 
March  i,  1862,  killed  at  Spottsylvania  Court  House 
in  May,  1864.  Samuel  E.  Belk,  first  lieutenant;  John 
M.  Springs,  second  lieutenant,  promoted  assistant 
quartermaster ;  William  M.  Matthews,  second  lieuten- 
ant, promoted  from  first  sergeant;  M.  E.  Alexander, 
promoted  second  lieutenant  from  second  sergeant. 
Lieutenants  Belk,  Matthews  and  Alexander  were 
wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Company  C  was  from  Johnston,  Chatham,  and 
Wake,  mostly  from  Johnston.  Its  first  captain  was 
John  Leach,  commissioned  February  28,  1862 ;  was 
succeeded  as  captain  by  J.  C.  Richardson  (wounded 
at  Petersburg),  commissioned  April  27,  1863,  both 
from  Johnston  County ;  George  T.  Leach,  of  Chatham, 
commissioned  first  lieutenant  March  7,  1862 ;  John  H. 
Tomlinson,  of  Johnston  County,  commissioned  second 
lieutenant  July  21,  1862. 

Company  D  was  from  Guilford,  Cumberland,  For- 
syth, Stokes,  Bladen,  and  Surry.  David  Scott,  Jr., 
of  Guilford  County,  was  commissioned  captain  March 
1,  1862,  resigned,  and  was  succeeded  May  15,  1863,  by 
Alexander  Ray,  of  Cumberland  County,  promoted 
from  first  Jieutenant  and  killed  at  Petersburg,  April, 
1865.  Alexander  Ray  was  commissioned  first  lieu- 
tenant March  1,  1862;  Madison  L.  Efland,  of  Guil- 
ford County,  commissioned  second  lieutenant  March 
[77] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

l,  1862,  promoted  first  lieutenant  May  15,  1863,  and 
wounded  ;  A.  H.  Westmoreland,  Stokes  County,  was 
promoted  from  the  ranks  to  second  lieutenant  in  1863. 

Company  E  was  from  Surry  County.  J.  C.  Nor- 
man was  commissioned  captain  on  March  8,  1862,  re- 
signed the  following  December,  and  was  succeeded 
by  First  Lieut.  Rogert  A.  Hill,  killed  in  1864,  suc- 
ceeded in  turn  as  captain  by  First  Lieut.  B.  W.  Min- 
ter;  Samuel  Walker  was  commissioned  second  lieu- 
tenant March  8,  1862,  promoted  to  first  lieutenant 
December,  1862,  and  resigned ;  B.  W.  Minter,  sec- 
ond lieutenant,  promoted  first  lieutenant  and  captain ; 
Henry  Hines,  second  lieutenant,  in  1862 ;  Logan  Be- 
mer,  promoted  from  corporal  to  second  lieutenant, 
wounded  and  captured,  in  1864 ;  James  A.  Hill,  sec- 
ond lieutenant,  captured  in  1864. 

Company  F  was  from  Alamance  and  Chatham. 
G.  M.  G.  Albright  was  commissioned  captain  May  5, 
1862,  killed  July,  1863,  at  Gettysburg,  and  succeeded 
by  A.  G.  Albright,  promoted  from  first  lieutenant 
(wounded  at  Fisher's  Hill,  1864)  ;  Jesse  M.  Holt,  first 
lieutenant,  July  16,  1863,  promoted  from  second  lieu- 
tenant (killed  at  Winchester,  1864)  ;  Branson  Lambe, 
commissioned  in  1864,  promoted  from  second  lieuten- 
ant ;  John  J.  Webster,  commissioned  second  lieuten- 
ant May,  1862,  and  resigned ;  S.  J.  Albright,  commis- 
sioned second  lieutenant  in  1862,  and  killed  at  Spott- 
sylvania  Court  House  in  1864. 

Company  G  was  from  Stokes  County.  Capt. 
Spottswood  B.  Taylor  was  commissioned  captain  on 
[  78  ] 


Confederate  Soldier 

March  20,  1862,  and  resigned  May,  1862;  was  suc- 
ceeded by  John  W.  Rierson,  promoted  from  second 
lieutenant,  and  who  was,  in  1863,  promoted  to  ma- 
jor, wounded  at  Winchester,  and  killed  at  Peters- 
burg, April,  1865.  He  was  in  time  succeeded  as  cap- 
tain by  H.  H.  Campbell,  promoted  from  first  lieuten- 
ant, and  killed  at  Winchester.  G.  B.  Moore  was  com- 
missioned first  lieutenant  in  March,  1862,  and  re- 
signed in  June;  John  W.  Rierson  commissioned  sec- 
ond lieutenant  March,  1862 ;  W.  H.  McKinney  was 
promoted  from  the  ranks  in  May,  1862,  to  second  lieu- 
tenant, and  wounded  at  Winchester;  C.  F.  Hall,  pro- 
moted from  the  ranks  to  second  lieutenant,  mortally 
wounded  at  Gettysburg;  W.  F.  Campbell,  promoted 
first  lieutenant,  and  wounded  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

Company  H  was  from  Stokes  County.  Capt. 
Spottswood  B.  Taylor  was  commissioned  on  March 
20,  1862,  and  resigned  on  account  of  ill-health,  Novem- 
ber, 1863,  and  was  succeeded  by  John  E.  Miller,  pro- 
moted from  second  lieutenant,  who  was  wounded  at 
Snicker's  Ford  and  captured,  1864 ;  Thomas  S.  Bur- 
nett, commissioned  first  lieutenant  March  20,  1862, 
and  killed  in  1863 ;  Charles  A.  McGehee,  first  lieuten- 
ant, 1862,  wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July,  1863,  and 
captured ;  Alexander  M.  King,  second  lieutenant, 
March,  1862 ;  J.  Henry  Owens,  promoted  second  lieu- 
tenant from  sergeant-major,  December,  1862,  and 
killed ;  Alexander  Boyles,  promoted  first  lieutenant. 

Company  I  was  from  Union  County.  E.  A.  Jerome 
was  commissioned  captain  March  20,  1862,  and  re- 
[79] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

signed  in  June  following,  and  was  succeeded  by- 
Thomas  E.  Ashcraft,  promoted  from  first  lieutenant; 
John  D.  Cuthbertson,  commissioned  second  lieutenant 
March  20,  1862,  promoted  first  lieutenant;  Joshua 
Lee,  commissioned  second  lieutenant  March  20,  1862 ; 
James  E.  Green,  promoted  from  the  ranks,  second 
lieutenant,  June  24,  1862;  A.  T.  Marsh,  promoted 
from  sergeant  to  second  lieutenant  May  19,  1864. 

Company  K  was  from  Wilkes  County.  William  J. 
Miller  was  commissioned  captain  March  20,  1862, 
killed  at  Gettysburg,  July  1,  1863,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Jesse  F.  Eller,  promoted  from  second  lieutenant; 
Thomas  C.  Miller,  promoted  from  second  lieutenant  to 
first  lieutenant,  July  1,  1863;  Thomas  C.  Miller,  com- 
missioned to  second  lieutenant  in  August,  1862. 

This  regiment  lost  in  killed  its  first  colonel,  who  was 
twice  wounded ;  both  of  its  majors,  one  of  them,  Rier- 
son,  several  times  wounded,  and  its  adjutant.  Its 
surviving  colonel  was  wounded  three  times — at  Gettys- 
burg, Fisher's  Hill,  and  in  the  assault  upon  the  Fed- 
eral lines  at  Hare's  Hill  on  March  25,  1865,  in  which 
last  engagement  he  was  captured  within  the  enemy's 
works. 

As  it  is,  I  have  only  the  approximately  correct  re- 
port of  the  losses  of  one  of  the  companies  of  the  regi- 
ment, and  that  only  in  one  battle,  but  I  think  the 
losses  of  the  other  companies  may  be  fairly  estimated 
from  the  losses  of  this  one. 

Company  B  lost  at  Gettysburg,  out  of  sixtv-five 
[80] 


Confederate  Soldier 

men,  eight  killed  and  twenty-two  wounded,  and  of  the 
four  officers,  three  were  wounded. 

I  meet  many  of  these  scarred  and  now  grizzly  vet- 
erans of  the  companies  from  Alamance,  Guilford, 
Stokes,  and  Surry  at  my  courts  in  these  counties,  and 
hear,  sometimes  from  those  from  the  other  counties, 
and  with  very  few  exceptions,  they  have  shown  them- 
selves to  be  as  good  citizens  as  they  were  gallant  sol- 
diers. They  illustrate  that  "peace  hath  her  victories 
no  less  renowned  than  war." 

The  regiment,  reduced  to  a  handful  of  men,  shared 
the  fortunes  of  the  historic  retreat,  and  surrendered 
at  Appomattox,  being  then  commanded  by  Capt. 
Thomas  E.  Ashcraft,  the  brigade  being  commanded 
by  Col.  David  G.  Cowand.  General  Grimes  having 
been  made  a  major-general,  commanded  the  division. 

I  cannot  close  this  sketch  without  acknowledging 
my  indebtedness  to  Captain  Sutton  and  Private  J. 
Montgomery,  of  Company  A ;  L.  Leon,  of  Company 
B,  who  kindly  furnished  me  with  copy  of  a  diary  kept 
by  him  from  the  organization  of  the  regiment  up  to 
May,  1864,  when  he  was  captured;  Captain  Albright, 
of  Company  F;  Capt.  S.  B.  Taylor,  of  Company  H, 
and  Lieut.  W.  F.  Campbell,  of  Company  G,  for  val- 
uable information ;  and  the  hope  that  the  publication 
of  the  sketches  of  the  North  Carolina  regiments  will 
excite  interest  enough  among  the  old  soldiers  to  give 
us  further  dates  and  incidents.  I  wish  I  could  write 
a  history  of  my  regiment  which  would  do  the  officers 
and  men  full  credit  for  their  patriotism  and  services. 
[81] 


Diary  of  a  Tar  Heel 

The  patriotism  and  heroism  of  these  soldiers  were 
illustrated  by  the  patient  and  uncomplaining  endurance 
of  the  forced  march,  the  short  rations,  the  hardships 
of  winter  camps  and  campaigns  as  much  as  by  their 
fighting  qualities.  Posterity  will  hesitate  to  decide 
which  is  most  worthy  of  admiration. 

JAMES   T.   MOREHEAD. 
Greensboro,  N.  C, 
April  9,   1 90 1. 


[82] 


Co. 

A. 

Co. 

B. 

Co. 

C. 

Co. 

D. 

Co. 

E. 

Co. 

F. 

Co. 

G. 

Co. 

H. 

Co. 

I. 

Co. 

K. 

FIRST   NORTH    CAROLINA   REGIMENT 

ROSTER    OF    COMPANIES 

Edgecombe  Guards.     Capt.  John  L.  Bridgers. 
Hornet's  Nest  Riflemen.     Capt.  L.  S.  Williams. 
Charlotte  Grays.     Capt.  E.  A.  Ross. 
Orange  Light  Infantry.     Capt.  R.  J.  Ashe. 
Buncombe  Riflemen.     Capt.  W.  W.  McDowell. 
Lafayette  Light  Infantry.     Capt.  J.  B.  Starr. 
Burke  Rifles.     Capt.  C.  N.  Avery. 
Fayetteville  Independent  Light  Infantry.     Capt.  W. 

Huske. 
Enfield  Blues.     Capt.  D.  B.  Bell. 
Southern  Stars.     Capt.  W.  J.   Hoke.  5 


ROLL   OF  CHARLOTTE   GRAYS.     COMPANY   C, 
FIRST   N.   C.   BETHEL   REGIMENT 

ENLISTED  APRIL,  1861. 

E.  A.  Ross,  Capt.,  P.  Maj.  of  D.  L.  Bringle,  5th  or  Ensign. 

11th  N.  C.  W.   D.    Elms,    1st   corporal, 

E.  B.  Cohen,  1st  lieut.  P.  Capt.,  37th  N.  C. 

T.  B.  Trotter,  2nd  lieut.  W.    B.    Taylor,    2nd   corporal, 

C.  W.  Alexander,  2nd  lieut.  P.  2nd  lieut.,  Co.  A, 

C.  R.  Staley,  orderly  sergeant.  11th  N.  C. 

J.   P.   Elms,  2nd  sergeant,  Henry  Terris,  3rd  corporal. 

P.  lieut.,  37th  N.  C.  George  Wolfe,  4th  corporal. 

J.   G.  McCorkle,  3rd  lieut.  Dr.    J.    B.    Boyd,   surgeon. 
W.  G.  Berryhill,  4th  lieut. 

PRIVATES 

M.  R.  Alexander.  Wm.  Brown. 

T.  A.  Alexander.  Wm.  J.   Brown. 

Lindsey  Adams.  Ed.   F.  Britton. 

J.  P.  Andrey,  P.  Capt.,  L.  Behrends. 

49th  N.  C.  Wm.  Calder. 

W.  E.  Andrey,  P.  Capt.,  J.   W.  Cathey. 

30th  N.  C.  S.   P.  Caldwell. 

A.  H.  Brown.  J.    F.    Crawson. 

[  83  ]  ' ; 


Diary   of   a   Tar  Heel 


T.  B.  Cowan. 

T.  J.   Campbell. 

J.  W.  Clendennen. 

J.  F.  Collins. 

T.  G.  Davis. 

J.  T.  Downs,  P.  Lieut, 

30th  N.  C. 
L.  W.  Downs. 
J.  P.  A.  Davidson. 
J.  R.  Dunn. 
J.   Engel. 
J.  M.  Earnheanut. 
M.  F.  Ezzell. 
J.   A.   Ezzell. 
S.  H.   Elliott. 
J.   A.   Elliott. 
R.  H.  Flow. 
James  Flore. 
I.   S.  A.   Frazier. 
R.   H.   Grier,  P.  Lieut., 

49th  N.  C. 
J.  C.  Grier,  P.  Capt.,  49th  N.  C. 
J.   M.   Grier. 
J.   A.  Gibson. 
D.   P.   Glenn. 
J.  R.  Gribble. 
N.  Gray. 
R.  L.  Gillespie. 
D.  W.  Hall. 
J.   C.   Hill. 
W.  J.  Hill. 
H.  H.  Hill. 
W.  Lee  Harrel,  P.  Capt., 

A  11th  N.  C. 
Robt.  H.  Hand,  P.  Lieut., 

A  11th  N.  C. 
R.  H.  Howard. 
Thomas  Howard. 
Jas.  M.  Hutchison. 
Cynes  N.  Hutchison. 
Tom  F.  Hoton 
Tom  H.  Harkey. 
S.    Hymans. 
Harper   C.    Houston. 
T.  Lindsev  Holms. 


Jas.   T.   Haskell. 

W.    T.    Hanser. 

George  T.   Herron. 

Geo.  W.  Howey. 

Jacob  Harkey. 

L.   P.   Henderson. 

Jack  R.  Isreal. 

Wm.  S.  Icehower. 

E.   P.   Ingold. 

Robt.  W.  Johnston. 

Jacob   Katz. 

Wm.   H.  Kistler. 

Jack  A.  Kinsey. 

J.  H.  Knox. 

Robt.  Keenan. 

Louis   Leon. 

J.  C.  Levi. 

Jacob  Leopold. 

Henry  Moyle. 

Tom  F.  McGinn. 

John  McKinley. 

Wm.  McKeever. 

D.  Watt  McDonald. 

John   H.   McDonald. 

Robt.  J.  Monteith. 

Moses  O.  Monteith. 

Sam'l   J.   McElroy. 

Jack  Norment. 

Isaac  Norment. 

Wm.  B.  Neal. 

L.  M.  Neal. 

S.  R.  Neal. 

P.  A.  Neal. 

Thos.  W.  Neely. 

S.  Oppenheim. 

J.  T.   Orr. 

John  L.  Osborne. 

J.  E.  Orman. 

Mack   Pettus. 

S.  A.  Phillips.* 

W.  R.  Carter. 

R.  A.  Carter. 

John  G.  Cotts,  P.  Lieut., 

49th  Rgt. 
Wm.  M.  Patts. 


[84] 


Confederate  Soldier 

Lawson  A.  Cotts,  P.  Capt.,        David  I.  Sample. 

37th  N.  C.  James  M.  Saville. 

Calvin  M.  Queny.  Robt.  Frank  Simpson. 

Theo.  C.  Ruddock.  S.  E.  Todd. 

J.  R.  Rea.  Wm.  Todd. 

D.  B.  Rea.  John  W.  Treloan. 

Wm.  D.  Stone.  Hugh  A.  Tate. 

W.   Steele.  Charles  B.  Watt. 

Jim  W.  Stowe.  B.    Frank   Watt. 

Wm.  E.  Sizer.  C.  C.  Wingate. 
J.  Monroe  Sims,  Q.  M.  Sergt,    T.  D.  Wolfe. 

11th  N.  C.  T.  J.  Wolfe. 

Richard  A.   Springs.  John  Wiley. 
C.  Ed.  Smith. 
S.  B.  Smith. 

M.  H.  Smith.  BY  W.   B.   TAYLOR. 

W.  J.  B.  Smith. 

W.  H.  Saville.  Aug.   24th,   1899. 

John  W.  Sample.  Total,  143  officers  and  men. 


FIFTY-THIRD    NORTH    CAROLINA    REGIMENT 

ROSTER  OF  COMPANIES 

Co.  A.    Guilford.     Capt.  A.  P.  McDaniel. 

Co.  B.     Mecklenberg.     Capt.  J.  H.  White. 

Co.  C.    Johnson;  Chatham;  Wake.     Capt.  John  Leach. 

Co.  D.     Guilford;   Cumberland;   Forsythe;   Stokes;   Bladen; 

Surry.     Capt.  David  Scott. 
Co.  E.     Surry.      Capt.    J.    C.    Norman. 
Co.  F.    Alamance;  Chatham.     Capt.  G.  M.  G.  Albright. 
Co.  G.     Stokes.     Capt.  G.  W.  Clark. 
Co.  H.     Stokes.    Capt.   S.  B.  Taylor. 
Co.  I.     Union.     Capt.    Thomas    E.    Ashcraft. 
Co.  K.    Wilkes.     Capt.  W.  J.  Miller. 


COMPANY  B,  53RD   REGIMENT,  N.  C.  T.,  C.  S.  A. 
FROM  MECKLENBURG 

J.   H.  White,,  captain,  k.  W.  M.  Matthews,  lieut. 

S.  E.  Belk,  captain,  k.  M.  E.  Alexander;  lieut. 

J.  M.  Springs,  lieut. 

[85] 


Diary   of  a   Tar   Heel 


NON-COMMISSIONED    OFFICERS 


R.  J.   Patterson,  w. 
S.  M.  Blair. 
R.  A.  Davis. 
A.   N.   Gray. 


W.  R.  Baily. 
R.   H.   Todd,  k. 
Alexander,  W.  H.,  k. 


PRIVATES 


Alexander,   J.   W.,   d. 
Alexander,  Benj.  P.,  d. 
Alexander,  Benj.  C. 
Anderson,  Wm.,  d. 
Atchison,  Wm.,  c.  and  w. 
Armstrong,  Leroy,  c. 
Barnett,  W.  A.,  k. 
Barnett,  R.  S. 
Barnett,  E.  L.  S. 
Berryhill,   W.   A.,   c. 
Berryhill,  Andrew,  w. 
Berryhill,  Alex. 
Barnes,  S.  S.,  d. 
Bruce,  G.  W. 
Burwell,  J.  B. 
Benton,  Sam'l,  w. 
Baker,  G.  F.,  w. 
Cochran,  J.   M. 
Cochran,  Wm.  R. 
Cochran,  R.  C. 
Catchcoat,  J.  H.,  w. 
Capps,  John,  d. 
Caton,  Elijah,  w.  and  c. 
Caton,  Sylv.,  c.  and  d. 
Clark,  W.   H. 
Clark,  W.  C. 
Clark,  A.  W. 
Collins,   John,  k. 
Campbell,  J.   P. 
Davis,  W.  A.,  d. 
Demon,  Jacob. 
Donnell,  W.  T.,  w.  and  c. 
Engenburn,   J. 
Eagle,  John,  w. 


Eagle,  W.  H. 
Epps,   W.    D.,   k. 
Engel,  Jonas. 
Frazier,  J.  L. 
Fincher,  Asa. 
Farrices,   Z.   W. 
Frazier,  J.  C.  R. 
Grier,  J.   G,  w. 
Giles,  M.  O. 
Giles,   S.  H. 
Howie,  J.  M. 
Howie,  Sam'l  M.,  w. 
Howie,  F.  M.,  w. 
Hall,  H.  L.,  w. 
Hood,  R.  L.,  c. 
Harry,  W.  B.,  w. 
Hoover,   F.  M. 
Katz,   Aaron. 
King,   P.   A.,  k. 
Kirkpatrick,  T.  A. 
Knox,  J.  S. 
Leon,  Louis. 
Love,  D.  L. 
Marks,  S.   S.,  c. 
Marks,  J.  G.,  w. 
Marks,  T.  E.,  k. 
Marks,  W.  S. 
McGinn,   Thos. 
McElroy,  Jas.  W.,  k. 
Mitchell,  C.  J. 
McKinney,  Wm. 
McKinney,  T.  A.,  c. 
Merritt,  Wm.  N.,  k. 
McCrary,  Jordan. 

86] 


Confederate  Soldier 


Morrison,  J.  M. 
McCombs,  A.  H.,  w.  and  c. 
Maxwell,   P.    P.,   w. 
McCrum,   H.   A.,  k. 
Norment,  A.  A.,  k. 
Otters,  Cooney,  c.  and  d. 
Owens,  J.   Henry,  k. 
Oates,  Jas. 
Potts,  Jas.   H. 
Patterson,  S.  L. 
Parks,  Miah,  c. 
Reid,  H.  K. 
Reid,  J.  R,  k. 
Robinson,  Thomp. 
Russell,  H.  T.,  c. 
Rodden,   N.  B.f  w. 
Rodden,  W.  R,  k. 
Robinson,    J.    P. 
Smith,  Lemuel. 
Sweat,  J.  M. 
Sample,  H.  B.,  c. 
Sample,  David. 
Sample,  J.  W. 
Sample,  J.  M.,  c. 
Springs,  R.  A. 


Stone,  W.  D.,  w.  and  c. 
Sulivan,  W.  L. 
Stewart,  W.  S.,  d. 
Taylor,  J.  W.,  w. 
Todd,   S.   E. 
Thomas,  Henry. 
Trotter,    A.    G. 
Trotter,  Thos.,  d. 
Vickers,  E.  N. 
Worthern,  Henry,  d. 
Wilkenson,  Neil,  k. 
Wolfe,    C.    H. 
Winders,  P.  S.,  c. 
Wilson,  L.  R.,  c. 
Wilson,  J.  H,  k. 
Wilson,  S.  W.,  w.  and  c. 
Wilson,  J.  M. 
Wilkinson,   R.  L. 
Williams,  Hugh. 
Williams,  J.  W. 
Williams,  A.  L. 
Williamson,  A.  L.,  c. 
Williamson,  J.  M.,  c. 
White,  J.  T. 


Total,  110;  killed,  16;  wounded  21;  died,  12;  captured,  2a 


[87] 


I 


ISTINCTIVE 
IXIE    BOOKS 


FROM  A   LITERARY   STANDPOINT 

Each  one  of  these  publications  has  high 
merit.  Mechanically  they  represent  the  high- 
est achievements  in  the  art  of  book-making, 
easily  ranking  with  the  choicest  production 
of  the  oldest  and  best  known  publishers  in 
America,  and  they  present  both  in  text  and 
illustrations  as  do  no  other  publications  of 
theii  class,  the  thought  and  life  of 

"THE  REAL  SOUTH" 


STONE  PUBLISHING  CO. 

CHARLOTTE,  N.  C. 


IDLE  COMMENTS 

By  Isaac  Erwin  Avery,  edited  by  Prof.  Edwin  Mims,  late 
of  Trinity  College,  and  University  North  Carolina,  now  of 
Vanderbilt.  New  edition  with  a  dedication  to  the  late  Joseph 
Pearson  Caldwell,  by  Wade  H.  Harris,  editor  Charlotte 
Observer.  The  plates  of  the  book  are  the  property  of 
Trinity  College  and  all  royalties  from  its  sale  go  to  the 
Erwin  Avery  Scholarship  Fund  of  Trinity  College. 

Cloth:    $1.50    net;    postpaid   $1.62.      Special    Gift    Edition. 
'Green  Ooze  Calf — bound  "Roycroftie,"  $2.50. 


BOOK  NOTICES 

"Idle  Comments." — In  a  former  issue  we  had  a  brief  no- 
tice of  this  delightful  book,  which  we  wish  now  to  notice 
more  fully. 

These  papers  came  out  at  different  intervals  in  the  Char- 
lotte Observer,  and  when  they  first  appeared,  the  reading 
public  realized  that  a  new  star  had  appeared  upon  the  hori- 
zon, though  we  all  realized  also  that  no  one  could  get  a 
•proper  idea  of  the  writer  from  these  occasional  articles. 

However,  even  with  these  disadvantages,  the  articles  were 
read  with  eagerness  and  quoted  with  delight. 

Now  that  they  are  before  us  in  book  form,  we  are  really 
astonished  at  their  cumulative  power  over  us. 

There  is  nothing  in  American  prose  that  can  excel  them. 
They  range  from  frolic  to  the  severest  morality,  and  through 
them  all  there  runs  a  vein  of  pathos  that  touches  the  ten- 
■derest  part  of  our  natures. 

His  heart  seems  peculiarly  susceptible  to  the  tragedy  of 
the  fallen  women,  which  is  seen  in  the  article  of  the  Girl 
with  a  white  dress,  or  the  death  in  Springs  Alley. 

Mr.  Avery  did  not  live  long  enough  to  prove  whether  he 
could  write  anything  more  ambitious  than  these  fugitive 
pieces,  but  we  believe  that  the  man  who  could  write  as  he 
did,  day  after  day,  was  capable  of  anything  in  the  line  of 
literature. 

North  Carolina  has  reason  to  be  proud  of  her  literary  chil- 
dren, and  among  them  she  rightly  places  Erwin  Avery  at  the 
"head. 

We  are  indebted  to  the  Stone  Company  of  Charlotte  for 


the  beautiful  new  edition  of  "Idle  Comments"  by  I.  E.  Avery. 
The  book  is  dedicated  to  Joseph  Pearson  Caldwell,  the 
greatest  editor  North  Carolina  has  produced,  and  the 
prefatory  note  is  written  by  Wade  H.  Harris,  the  present 
editor  of  the  Charlotte  Observer.  Avery  occupies  a  unique 
position  among  our  North  Carolina  men  of  letters.  Thia 
book,  which  embraces  the  cream  of  his  writings,  is  fresh, 
natural  and  wholesome,  and  the  Stone  Company  have  done 
a  great  service  in  bringing  it  out  in  this  very  attractive  form. 

"Idle  Comments"  is  a  volume  made  up  of  the  miscellane- 
ous writings  of  Mr.  Avery,  who  during  his  service  with  the 
Observer  ran  each  Monday  morning  a  column  of  philosophi- 
cal musings,  humorous  comments  and  human  interest  nar- 
ratives under  the  general  head,  "Idle  Comments."  The  col- 
lection embraced  in  the  book,  however,  is  not  confined  to 
what  appeared  in  that  feature,  the  other  notable  writings 
also  being  selected  from  his  work  on  the  paper.  The  book 
was  edited  by  Dr.  Edward  Mims,  head  of  the  department  of 
English  Literature  at  Trinity  College,  and  later  at  the  Uni- 
versity, now  a  member  of  the  faculty  of  Vanderbilt  Univer- 
sity and  so  admirably  executed  is  the  work  that  this  vol- 
ume appears  as  if  it  had  been  written  in  just  the  order  irt 
which  it  appears  by  Mr.  Avery. — Charlotte  Observer. 

With  the  rush  of  the  Christmas  season  driving  his  force 
to  work  day  and  night,  and  with  his  own  hands  filled  with 
tasks  unfinished,  the  writer  has  sat  for  two  hours  idly  turn- 
ing the  leaves  of  the  book  that  holds  for  posterity  the  charm, 
of  Avery's  pen  and  the  fascination  of  his  personality. 

If  there  is  another  of  North  Carolina's  sons  whose  pen 
has  the  power  to  move  and  to  charm  as  does  Avery's,  we 
have  not  found  him.  And  if  there  is  any  book,  of  the  thou- 
sands turned  off  the  presses  of  the  nation  this  year,  wherein 
one  hears  the  voices  of  the  children  or  catches  so  really  the 
fragrance  of  flowers,  we  have  not,  seen  it. 

What  present  for  Christmas  is  so  appropriate  as  a  book? 
What  book  could  be  bestowed  with  better  taste  than  Avery's 
"Idle  Comments,"  which  truly  breathes  a  Christmas  Spirit?' 
— Elisabeth  City  Advance. 

STONE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 
Charlotte,  N.  C. 


"  Songs  Merry  and  Sad  " 

By  John  Charles  McNeill.  Sixth  edition.  Cloth,  $1.00 
net.  By  mail  $1.06.  Limp  Leather  (Brown 
Ooze  Calf,  bound  "  Roycroftie,")  $1.50  postpaid. 

Some  Press  and  Other  Comments 

"  I  have  read  after  Mr.  McNeill  and  I  have  enjoyed  his  work." 

—  Theodore  Roosevelt. 

"  The  published  poems  of  John  Charles  McNeill  are  said  to 
be  meeting  with  a  ready  sale.  The  fact  is  a  compliment  to 
the  literary  taste  of  North  Carolina  people." — Editorial  in 
Greensboro  Telegram. 

"  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  in  the  realm  of  pure  poetry  no 
more  satisfying  volume  than  this  has  been  published  in  the  United 
States  in  a  decade." — Norfolk  Landmark. 

"  It  is  a  neat  book  and  contains  fifty-nine  poetic  gems  from 
the  pen  of  Mr.  McNeill.  It  is  a  fortunate  thing  that  they  have 
been  grouped  into  book  form  that  they  can  better  be  preserved 
and  in  that  shape  constitute  a  lasting  and  valuable  contribution 
to  North  Carolina  literature." —  Editorial  in  the  Wilmington  Star. 

"  His  work  I  think  is  the  most  ambitious  and  the  most  suc- 
cessful of  all  Southern  verse  writers  of  the  day." — Interview  in 
Birmingham  Age-Herald. 

"  One  must  go  across  the  Atlantic  to  Stephen  Phillips  to  find 
so  tender  a  note  and  so  deft  a  touch  as  Mr.  McNeill  here  reveals." 

—  Editorial  in  the  Biblical  Recorder. 

"  Seems  to  have  in  him  the  making  of  a  great  poet." —  Editorial 
in  Progressive  Farmer. 

"  He  is  one  of  the  rarest  literary  geniuses  we  have  in  the 
South." — Editorial  in  the  Raleigh  Christian  Advocate. 

"The  verses  in  this  volume  have  about  them  that  indefinable 
quality  which  distinguishes  poetry  from  mere  verse.  The  work- 
manship is  so  good  that  one  almost  doubts  sometimes  whether 
it  is  not  only  the  perfection  of  technique  that  allures  and  whether 
the  true  soul  of  the  poet  is  really  here  and  not  only  the  hand  of 
the  artist.    But  as  we  read  on  we  begin  to  see  that  the  singer's 

I 


lips  have  indeed  been  touched  with  the  glowing  coal  from  the 
true  altar  of  song.  We  congratulate  Mr.  McNeill  on  this 
charming  volume." —  Charleston  News  and  Courier. 

"  His  discrimination  was  splendid  —  he  embraces  in  this  volume 
the  best  verse  he  has  written.  We  hold  him  as  the  genius  of 
North  Carolina,  and  this  little  volume  justifies  the  claim." — 
Editorial  in  the  Charlotte  Observer. 

"  The  delicious  Southern  flavor  and  the  tender  touches  of  the 
old  plantation  life  make  it  especially  refreshing  to  our  Southern 
people.  It  is  the  very  cream  of  the  work  of  the  young  author, 
which  has  brought  him  the  favor  of  the  public  in  so  great  a 
measure.  It  is  perfectly  free  from  affectation,  but  it  is  couched 
in  faultless  English  and  reveals  the  highest  gifts  of  the  poet." — 
Editorial  in  Charity  and  Children. 

"  Mr.  McNeill  is  fast  becoming  one  of  the  leading  writers  of 
the  South." —  Editorial  in  the  Clarkton  Express. 

"  He  has  the  gift,  and  there  are  those  who  are  hoping  that 
the  South  shall  have  in  him  the  poet  who  shall  speak  to  the 
heart  of  the  world." — Editorial  in  the  Presbyterian  Standard. 

"  In  the  death  of  John  Charles  McNeill  the  State  loses  the  finest 
poetic  genius   ever  born   within   its  borders." 

"  But  not  one  of  these  was  the  equal  of  McNeill.  He  surpassed 
them  in  natural  endowment,  in  range  and  delicacy  of  sympathy, 
in  loving  familiarity  with  the  homes  and  habits  of  woodland 
things,  in  subtle  knowledge  of  the  great  primal  emotions  of  the 
heart,  and  in  that  still  rarer  gift  of  craftsmanship,  without  which 
the  greatest  genius  must  remain  inarticulate.  McNeill  was  a 
poet  because  he  looked  life  straight  in  the  eyes,  felt  the  virgin 
wonder  and  glory  of  it  all,  and  knew  how  to  body  forth  his 
feelings  in  lines  of  exquisite  art  and  compelling  appeal.  I  would 
rather  have  written  '  Songs,  Merry  and  Sad,'  than  to  have  the 
costliest  monument  in  the  state  erected  to  my  memory.  The  equal 
of  that  little  volume  has  not  appeared  in  the  South  since  Sidney 
Lanier  fell  on  sleep  twenty-six  years  ago."—  C,  Alphonso  Smith. 


Lyrics  From  Cotton  Land 

Third  Edition,  with  portrait  and  a  short  biographical 
sketch  of  the  author,  artistically  bound  in  Bandana 
Cloth.  Illustrated  with  five  drawings  by  the  cele- 
brated artist  made  famous  by  his  "  Coon "  draw- 
ings, E.  W.  Kemble,  one  picture  by  A.  B.  Frost, 
and  eight  photographs  by  Mrs.  W.  O.  Kibble,  among 
them  a  photograph  of  cotton  showing  bloom,  full 
boll  and  open  boll  on  the  same  stalk.  Price  $1.50 
postpaid. 

Orders  for  this  book  have  come  from  all  sections 
of  the  United  States  and  Canada.  It  is  easily  the 
most  distinctively  Southern  book  ever  published. 

" '  Lyrics  from  Cotton  Land '  will  remain  a  priceless  legacy  to 
the  children  of  the  South.  It  is  a  voice  that  had  become  almost 
a  memory.  It  is  a  key  to  the  treasure  house  of  a  period  fast 
receding.  It  glorifies  with  simple  and  soulful  melody  '  the 
tender  grace  of  a  day  that  is  dead.'  '  Uncle  Remus,'  up  to 
the  advent  of  the  brilliant  young  Scotchman,  was  the  most  faithful 
and  accurate  exponent  of  '  Mr.  Nigger '  in  the  realm  of  letters, 
but  Joel  Chandler  Harris  is  not  a  whit  more  life-like  in  his  por- 
trayal of  the  language  as  well  as  of  the  spirit  of  the  old  time 
darkey  than  John  Charles  McNeill." —  Charity  and  Children.  ■ : 

"Joel  Chandler  Harris  has  the  black  man  down  perfectly* 
John  Charles  McNeill  puts  down  the  black  man's  thoughts  and 
language  with  perfect  fidelity;  and  as  an  interpreter  of  his 
thoughts  and  dialect,  H.  E.  C.  Bryant  is  scarcely  inferior  to 
«ither." — J.  P.  Caldwell,  in  the  Charlotte  Observer. 

"  Seldom  have  we  seen  a  book  which  has  more  charm  and 
fascination  than  'Lyrics  from  Cotton  Land,'  by  the  late  John 
Charles  McNeill;  seldom  a  book  of  its  character  with  a  wider 
range.  Not  only  are  the  songs  of  the  South  sung  as  they  are 
rarely  sung,  but  throughout  is  a  touch  of  pathos  and  humor 

3 


which  makes  the  heart  throb  and  clothes  life's  stern  responsibilities 
with    new    meaning." — Pinehurst    Outlook. 

"  If  anyone  ever  says  to  you  again  that  the  South  does  not 
produce  beautiful  books,  you  are  hereby  authorized  to  state  that 

that  person  is  a mistaken.     You  will  only,  for  instance,  have 

to  refer  him  to  Stone  &  Barringer  Co.,  of  Charlotte,  N.  C,  who 
has  sent  for  review  among  other  volumes,  a  book,  '  Lyrics  from 
Cotton  Land,'  by  John  Charles  McNeill,  which  is  as  tastily 
produced,  attractive  in  appearance  and  appropriately  bound 
as  any  book  this  scribe  has  seen  in  a  long  time." — Birmingham 
Age-Herald. 

"  Tinctured  with  the  quaint  spirit  of  the  South,  '  Lyrics  from 
Cotton  Land '  contains  ninety-seven  poems,  and  every  one  of 
them  is  worth  thoughtful  reading." — San  Francisco  Examiner. 

"  Two  years  ago  John  Charles  McNeill  died  and  was  buried 
near  the  home  of  his  parents  in  Scotland  county,  but  he  is  not 
forgotten,  for  he  left  behind  a  monument  more  lasting  than  stone. 
The  friends  of  the  charming  young  Scotchman  with  the  poetic 
gift,  did  not  begin  to  realize  his  real  worth  until  after  he  had 
passed  away.  His  songs  and  lyrics  are  more  highly  and  genu- 
inely appreciated  to-day  than  they  were  when  they  first  came 
from  his  pen." — H.  E.  C.  Bryant,  in  Charlotte  Observer. 

"  A  distinct  pleasure  is  felt  even  in  just  looking  at  the  Ban- 
dana edition  of  John  Charles  McNeill's  '  Lyrics  from  Cotton 
Land.'  It  is  by  far  the  most  attarctive  book  ever  published  in 
the  State.  The  publishers,  Stone  &  Barringer  Co.,  of  Charlotte, 
N.  C,  have  displayed  unusual  taste  in  the  cover.  As  the  name 
'  bandana  edition '  signifies,  it  is  bound  in  gay  bandana  cloth, 
with  a  small  round  picture  of  a  true  old  Southern  mammy  on 
the  front  cover.  The  whole  production  is  typically  Southern  and 
unique."—  Raleigh  Evening  Times, 


In  Love's  Domain 

By  H.  E.  Harman.     Cloth  $1.50.     Limp  Leather  (Green 
Ooze  Calf)  $2.50. 

"  I  want  to  send  you  my  very  sincere  thanks  for  the  great  service 
you  have  done  me  in  sending  me  Mr.  Harman's  '  In  Love's  Do- 
main.' My  long  absence  from  my  native  State  has  caused  me 
to  miss  Mr.  Harman's  work,  and  it  was  a  pleasure  to  find  it  so 
beautiful  and  true.  It  is  not  a  mere  versification  that  I  find  in 
this  book,  but  poetry,  literature  and  noble  feeling  cast  in  noble 
form.  I  hope  you  will  present  my  compliments  to  Mr.  Harman, 
and  express  to  him  my  deep  sense  of  pride  in  his  work  and  ap- 
preciation of  his  thoughtfulness." — Edwin  A.  Alderman,  President 
University  of  Virginia. 

"  Poet,  publisher  and  printer  have  combined  their  talents  to 
make  an  exquisitely  charming  volume  for  the  book  lovers  out  of 
'  In  Love's  Domain,'  and  they  have  accomplished  their  task.  If 
the  magic  of  the  book-maker  invites  one  to  the  easy  chair  and 
the  fireside,  the  spell  of  the  poet  and  the  art  of  the  engraver 
have  called  indoors  some  of  the  glory  of  the  fields  and  the  woods. 
That  a  North  Carolina  publishing  house  and  a  North  Carolina 
poet  should  produce  a  book  of  poems  in  such  rich  mechanical 
setting  calls  for  due  honor  and  appreciation  of  North  Carolina 
people,  and  this  we  hope  both  author  and  publishers  will  receive 
in  a  measure  at  least  equal  to  their  high  desert." — North  Caro- 
lina Education. 

"  The  verse  of  H.  E.  Harman  has  been  compiled  by  Stone  & 
Barringer  Co.,  of  Charlotte,  and  issued  in  book  form  under  the 
title  of  '  In  Love's  Domain  and  the  Call  of  the  Woods.'  Mr. 
Harman  has  the  gift  of  poetry,  and  his  book  will  charm  and  please 
the  reader  to  the  utmost.  The  illustrations  are  tasteful  and  the 
mechanical  work  neat.  Mr.  Harman  is  a  business  man,  but  takes 
time  to  commune  with  nature  and  the  beautiful  things  of  the 
world,  and  his  verse  is  a  natural  expression  of  the  fine  thoughts 
within  him." — Raleigh  Evening  Times. 

"  There  came  to  our  desk  this  morning  the  sweetest  little  book 
we  have  ever  seen.     So  daintily  bound  that  we  were  sure  that 


within  its  covers  must  be  beautiful  thoughts.     We  opened  it  and 
our  eyes  rested  on  the  following  lines: 

"  '  When  close  of  day  has  set  the  west  aglow 

And   night   comes   on   with   steady  steps   and   slow, 
I  yearn  for  touch  of  vanished  hand  again 
And  touch  of  lips  as  in  the  long  ago.' 

"  We  read  on  while  the  busy  world  around  us  rushed  on  in 
its  foolish  bustle,  until  our  soul  was  full  of  sweet  thoughts,  and 
we  laid  the  dainty  volume  away  to  be  read  again  and  again 
in  our  home  after  the  shadows  have  caused  the  curtains  to  be 
drawn,  and  we  feel  that  we  have  a  little  treasure  that  will 
brighten  our  life  and  chase  many  gloomy  thoughts  away. 

"  We  thank  the  author,  Mr.  H.  E.  Harman,  a  Southern  man, 
for  giving  to  his  people  a  book  that  is  full  of  beautiful  thoughts, 
and  appreciate  the  kindness  of  the  publishers,  Stone  &  Barringer 
Co.,  of  Charlotte,  N.  C,  in  sending  the  book  our  way.  We 
hope  every  Southern  man  and  woman  will  get  a  copy  of  this 
book." — Burlington  Neivs,  Burlington,  N.  C. 

"  '  In  Love's  Domain '  is  a  most  exquisite  book  of  poems.  All 
the  verses  have  been  given  a  most  artistic  setting,  and  the  illus- 
trations are  beautiful.  No  expense  appears  to  have  been  spared 
by  the  publishers,  and  the  fact  that  a  Southern  publishing  house 
can  bring  out  a  book  of  poems  in  such  expensive  style  shows  that 
the  South  is  coming  into  its  own  in  a  literary  way.  The  author 
of  '  In  Love's  Domain '  is  Southern,  the  making  of  the  book  is 
Southern,  and  in  the  result  every  Southerner  must  feel  a  pride." 
—  Norfolk  Ledger-Dispatch,  Norfolk,  Va. 

"  '  In  Love's  Domain '  is  a  triumph  of  Southern  book  making. 
We  have  seen  no  volume  more  artistically  and  beautifully  gotten 
up.  Every  illustration  is  inspiring,  most  of  them  being  from 
photographs.  It  is  a  hopeful  note  for  Southern  literature  that 
such  a  volume  should  come  from  publishers  in  Dixie.  They  are 
to  be   congratulated. 

"  The  verses  of  Mr.  Harman  are  exquisite  and  full  deserving 
of  their  artistic  setting. 

"  This  book  is  well  worth  while.     It  would  make  a  very  pretty 

6 


Christmas  present." —  Charleston  News  and  Courier,  Charleston, 
S.C. 

"The  volume  is  nothing  less  than  exquisite.  Binding,  paper, 
typography,  all  are  exactly  in  harmony,  while  no  holiday  book 
on  the  market  for  many  years  has  surpassed  '  In  Love's  Domain ' 
in  beauty  and  aptness  of  illustration.  The  pictures  of  nature 
are  particularly  fine,  those  depicting  landscapes  and  woods  bring- 
ing with  them  the  very  scent  of  the  big  out-of-doors.  The  pub- 
lishers have  fully  appreciated  the  value  of  the  work  they  have 
undertaken  and  have  given  it  a  vehicle  which  leaves  nothing 
to  be  desired.1 

"  There  is  in  his  work  the  breath  of  the  woods  in  spring,  the 
color  of  the  blooming  dogwood,  the  scent  of  the  fields  covered 
with  daisies.  This  world,  judging  by  the  view  of  it  given  in 
his  poetry,  is  to  him  a  place  to  be  enjoyed,  with  plenty  of  sor- 
row mixed  in  to  form  the  necessary  contrast.  His  note  is  sweet 
and  clear,  rather  than  majestic  and  compelling." — Review  in 
Charlotte  Observer. 

"  Mr.  Harman  writes  verse,  not  in  the  spirit  of  the  professional 
writer,  but  because  many  gently  beautiful  things  within  him 
struggle  for  and  find  beautiful  expression.  The  inner  life  which 
he  combines  with  business  success  shows  how  the  South  may  com- 
bine old  ideals  with  new  material  advancement.  The  published 
volume  is  an  exquisite  thing,  a  thorough  credit  to  the  publishers. 
'  In  Love's  Domain  '  belongs  with  the  Avery  and  McNeill  books, 
belongs  in  that  high  lineage." —  Editorial  in  Charlotte  Observer. 

"  '  In  Love's  Domain  '  is  an  alluring  volume  of  sweet  simplicities 
from  the  Hills  of  North  Carolina,  issued  by  the  Stone  &  Barringer 
Co.,  of  Charlotte,  N.  C.  This  beautiful  book  is  dedicated  to 
all  '  Who  walk  the  ways  of  sweet  content,  outward  and  back 
again.'  Of  sweetness  and  light  there  is  enough  in  the  modest 
volume,  and  now  and  then  the  poignant  praises  of  genius  is  sung 
in  humble  measure.  H.  E.  Harman  is  the  name  of  this  new  song- 
ster of  the  South,  who  prettily  names  the  domains  of  love  as  an 
'  amber  plain.'  He  will  be  heard  from  in  more  robust  fashion 
again,  no  doubt." — Jacksonville  Sunday  Times-Union. 


Gates  of  Twilight 

By  H.  E.  Harman.     Cloth  $1.50;  Limp  Leather  $2.50. 

"  If  Harman's  vision  included  to  the  utmost,  the  visible  tangible 
beauties  of  the  world  —  and  no  more  —  much  of  '  The  Gates  of 
Twilight '  would  never  have  been  written. 

"  Versifiers  there  have  been  who  hymned  the  beauties  of  nature 
without  seeming  to  see  anything  therein  but  perfection  of  sensuous 
loveliness,  but  their  work  has  promptly  been  assigned  to  obliv- 
ion. Harman  is  not  of  these.  His  mind  and  heart  thrill  with 
delight  at  the  budding  hawthorn,  or  the  willow-shaded  stream; 
his  soul  instantly  rouses  itself  to  inquire  whether  or  not  there  is 
meaning  behind  these  lovely  shapes." —  From  the  Charlotte  Daily 
Observer. 

"  Whoever  knows  and  loves  the  South  will  find  deep  enjoyment 
in  the  poems  which  Henry  E.  Harman  has  included  in  his  new 
volume.  He  will  also  be  proud  that  a  Southern  publisher  has 
produced  so  beautiful  a  book. 

"  Mr.  Harman  is  at  his  best  when  he  writes  of  the  South,  its 
natural  charms  and  its  wealth  of  historic  tradition.  Songs  of  the 
South  form  a  goodly  part  of  the  63  poems. 

"  The  book  is  bound  in  the  daintiest  blue,  and  the  photographs 
of  Southern  woodland  scenery  are  both  attractive  and  appropriate 
to  the  text.  There  are  also  several  posed  photographs." — St. 
Louis  Post  Dispatch. 

"  The  keynote  of  this  volume  of  idyls  is  struck  in  the  dedica- 
tion, which  reads: 

"  '  Who  loves  the  sunlight  on  the  hills, 
Who  feels  a  pain  at  human  wrongs, 
Whose"  soul  at  childhood's  laughter  thrills, 
For  him  I  sing  these  simple  songs.' 

"  In  many  of  these  poems  the  author  shows  an  advance  over 
his  previously  published  work.  The  same  spontaniety  and  fresh- 
ness obtain,  but  there  is  a  firmer  touch,  a  surer  confidence,  a  more 
daring  flight.  '  The  Fields  of  May '  is,  perhaps,  the  best  of 
the  longer  poems,  being  full  of  beauty  and  musical  value.    All 

8 


are  lofty  and  uplifting.  Two  tributes  to  Southern  poets,  Sidney 
Lanier  and  John  C.  McNeill,  are  found  in  this  volume.  The 
poem  '  The  Master  In  the  Garden '  is  strongly  suggestive  of 
Lanier's  '  Ballad  of  Trees  and  the  Master,'  and  is  worthy  of 
its  subject,  strong  and  dignified.  The  illustrations  are  from 
photographs,  and  those  of  scenes  from  nature  are  very  attrac- 
tive, and  add  to  the  charm  of  the  book." —  New  Orleans  Picayune. 

"  A  most  beautiful  piece  of  book-making.  Sixty  or  more  verses 
.with  many  exquisite  illustrations  interspersed.  The  illustrations 
are  from  photographs,  the  most  being  scenes  of  our  southern 
woodland,  field,  marsh  and  mountain.  Especially  fair  is  the  one 
'  The  Pictured  Glory  of  the  Dogwood  Trees,'  '  Spring  Along 
the  Fair  Savannah,'  and  '  Willow,  My  Willow '  are  also  very 
beautiful.  Many  of  the  poems  are  written  in  an  admirable  spirit 
of  patriotism,  '  Pickett's  Charge,'  '  Gettysburg,'  '  The  Sound  of 
Sumter's  Gun.' 

"  One  of  the  most  excellent  pictures  is  that  of  the  live  oak  at 
Brunswick,  Ga.  Under  this  tree  Sidney  Lanier  is  said  to  have 
written  his  '  Marshes  of  Glynn.'  The  tree  is  known  the  country 
round  as  'Lanier's  Oak.'" — Birmingham,  Alabama,  Age-Herald. 


"  Tar  Heel  Tales  " 

By  H.  E.  C.  Bryant  ("Red  Buck").  Price,  Cloth  (North 
Carolina,  Brown  checked  Gingham),  $1.25  net. 
By  mail  $1.35. 

Personal  Letters  (Published  by  Permission) 

"  I  thank  you  heartily  for  the  copy  of  '  Tar  Heel  Tales.'  The 
binding  is  unique  and  very  attractive;  the  illustrations  are  ex- 
cellent and  illustrate.  The  best  compliment  that  I  can  pay  to 
the  contents  is  to  say  that  I  took  the  book  home  the  evening  afer 
receiving  it,  and  dipped  into  one  of  the  little  stories  experimentally 
after  supper,  and  read  story  after  story,  finding  it  impossible 
to  lay  the  book  aside  until  after  eleven  o'clock,  and  then  laid  it 
aside  only  under  orders  from  Mrs.  Joyner.  I  trust  that  it  will 
have  the  wide  sale  it  deserves." — J.  Y.  Joyner,  Supt.  Public  In- 
struction, Raleigh,  N.  C. 

"  Your  '  Tar  Heel  Tales '  are  delightful.  They  are  as  good 
negro  dialect  stories  as  have  ever  been  put  into  print.  This  is 
the  first  book  I  have  read  at  one  sitting  in  a  long  time.  I  hope 
that  this  is  not  the  last  one  that  you  will  write." —  Champ  Clark. 

"  I  have  just  finished  reading  '  Tar  Heel  Tales,'  and  am  de- 
lighted with  it.  The  stories  are  bright  and  sparkling,  the  humor 
is  delicate  and  refined.  The  negro  dialect  is  such  as  only  a 
genuine  Southerner  can  write.  It  is  none  of  the  '  make-believe 
sort '  so  often  found  in  books  by  authors  unacquainted  with  the- 
negro  at  home." —  W.  R.  Mills,  Supt  Public  Schools,  Louisburg,. 
N.  C. 

"  Your  stories  are  delightful,  strongly  written  and  true  to  the 
character  of  place  and  people.  I  think  that  I  have  read  '  Uncle 
Ben's  Last  Fox  Race'  ten  times  and  I  shall  read  it  willingly 
ten  times  more,  knowing  that  after  that  I  shall  still  have  the 
determination  to  be  a  '  repeater.' 

"  I  do  not  know  the  negro  as  you  know  him,  but  I  have,  I 
think  a  much  truer  knowledge  of  him  and  his  ways  now  that  I 
have  read  '  Tar  Heel  Tales.'  Every  Northern  man,  and  I  am 
one,  should  read  your  story  '  A  Negro  and  His  Friend.'  I  have 
several  book  cases  given  over  entirely  to  nature  books.  'Tar 
Heel  Tales '  shall  have  a  chief  place  among  them." —  Edward  B~ 
Clark,  Chicago  Evening  Post,  Washington  Correspondent. 

10 


A  prominent  educator  says  of  Mr.  Bryant :  "As  a  writer  of 
negro  dialect,  I  do  not  place  him  next  to  Uncle  Rumus  —  Joel 
Chandler  Harris  —  but  absolutely  his  equal;  his  negroes  do  not 
use  stage  negro  talk,  but  they  talk,  think,  and  act  like  the  niggers 
I  knew  as  a  boy  on  my  father's  farm." 

Press  notices  of  "  Tar  Heel  Tales  "  have  been  numerous  and 
kind. 

Here  are  a  few  extracts: 

"The  book  is  mechanically  an  interesting  product  of  the  book- 
maker's art.  The  printing,  paper  and  binding  are  all  good. 
The  cloth  covering  used  is  a  brown  checked  gingham,  and  the 
title  '  Tar  Heel  Tales '  is  twined  about  with  a  burry  pine  bough 
stamped  in  green  and  pine-bark  brown." — North  Carolina  Edu- 
cation, Raleigh,  N.  C. 

"  Mr.  H.  E.  C.  Bryant,  of  Charlotte  and  Washington,  knows 
how  to  tell  a  good  story  well.  Story-telling  with  him  is  a  gift 
and  an  art.  In  the  old  days  when  he  was  still  a  bare-footed, 
red  headed,  freckle-faced  farmer  boy,  even  then,  he  knew  how 
to  tell  a  story,  and  wherever  the  boys  gathered  in  the  Providence 
section,  young  Bryant  was  the  magnet  around  which  the  others 
were  attracted,  and  when  he  talked,  and  that  was  usually  all  the 
time,  the  others  listened.  His  powers  in  the  way  of  story  telling 
were  a  source  of  wonder  and  admiration  to  the  other  boys.  This 
natural  gift  he  has  cultivated  until  now  he  tells  or  writes  a  story 
that  will  appeal  to  and  hold  anyone.  His  stories  of  the  negro 
and  of  the  old  days  and  of  fox  hunts,  of  which  sport  he  is  a 
past-master,  have  long  attracted  attention  and  because  of  the 
place  they  have  gained  in  the  hearts  of  the  people  and  the  in- 
sistent demand  for  them  have  at  last  been  issued  in  book  form. 
'  Tar  Heel  Tales '  is  the  name  of  the  book  which  is  now  presented 
to  the  public." — Evening  Times,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 

"  The  book  is  a  sure  enough  Tar  Heel  production.  The  writer 
is  a  red-headed  Tar  Heel.  It  is  dedicated  to  Mr.  J.  P.  Caldwell, 
the  well  known  Tar  Heel  editor.  It  is  published  by  Stone  & 
Barringer  Co.,  of  Charlotte,  N.  C,  a  Tar  Heel  book  company.  It 
is  bound  in  checked  gingham,  a  Tar  Heel  production,  and  the 
tales  (and  they  are  good  ones),  are  about  Tar  Heel  folks.  If 
you  want  a  book  that  will  put  you  in  a  good  humor  when  you 
have  a  case  of  the  blues,  get  this  book." — Spring  Hope  Leader. 

II 


The  Breed  and  the  Pasture 

By  J.  Lenoir  Chambers.     Cloth,  Price  $1.00;  By  Mail 

$1.06. 

"  In  the  '  Breed  and  the  Pasture '  we  have  certain  features  of 
an  easily  recognized  piedmont  community,  sketched  by  the -pea 
of  one  who  knows  and  loves  it  well. 

"  It  is  not  the  purpose  of  this  article  to  abstract  or  summarize 
what  this  exquisite  set  of  essays  contains.  No  one  who  is  in- 
terested in  the  course  of  events  which  have  led  to  the  creation 
of  the  New  South  can  afford  not  to  read  every  line  of  them. 
The  whole  may  be  completed  from  cover  to  cover  in  a  single  un- 
interrupted evening.  This  done,  the  reader  cannot  fail  to  have  a 
clearer  insight  into  the  meaning  of  the  expression  '  down  home ' 
and  to  feel  a  deeper  throbbing  of  the  sentiment  conveyed  in  the 
well  known  lines  beginning,  '  Here's  to  the  land  of  the  long-leaf 
pine.'  Furthermore,  he  will  have  become  acquainted  with  a 
set  of  essays  couched  in  as  clear  and  beautiful  language  as  any 
that  have  appeared  for  many  a  year,  a  style  that,  never  becoming 
stilted  or  over-ornate  continues  from  first  to  last,  lucid,  euphon- 
ious, charming. 

"  The  '  Woman  of  the  South '  has  been  toasted  at  countless 
banquets,  has  been  lauded  in  thousands  of  fulsome,  yet  heart- 
felt words.  Scores  and  even  hundreds  of  tributes  spring  to  mind. 
In  all  the  articles  this  reviewer  has  ever  read  dealing  with  this 
favorite  topic,  there  is  not  a  single  one  which  equals  Mr.  Cham- 
bers' chapter  entitled  '  The  Forgotten  Woman,'  in  beauty  of 
conception  and  delicacy  of  execution. 

"  The  apologists  for  the  South  have  too  frequently  over-empha- 
sized the  '  story  of  the  glory  of  the  men  who  wore  the  gray ' 
to  such  an  extent  that  economic  phenomena  have  been  thrust  to 
one  side  or  entirely  neglected.  The  chapter  mentioned  is  a 
dispassionate  and  philosophical  statement,  not  of  a  partisan,  but 
of  a  cool-headed,  practical  man  of  affairs,  of  how  matters  look 
to  him  from  a  retrospect  of  nearly  half  a  century  after  Appomat- 
tox. The  defects  of  the  Southerner  are  not  minimized  any  more 
than  are  the  undoubted  virtues  of  the  Puritan  omitted  and  the 

12 


result  is  a  distinct  contribution  to  the  philosophy  of  the  history  of 
the  Civil  War." — Review  in  Charlotte  Observer. 

"  Mr.  Chambers,  whatever  his  personal  experience,  could  not 
have  written  as  he  has  done  without  fine  selective  imagination 
joined  to  graceful  style.  No  prosy  reminiscences  here,  but  the 
firm  touch  of  a  man  who  has  only  reached  the  prime  of  his  life, 
and  whom  years  may  never  make  old.  His  are  different  pictures 
from  those  which  the  public  justly  grew  tired  of  long  ago.  We 
find  them  delightful.  Evanston,  the  town  which  Mr.  Chambers 
describes,  with  its  neighboring  county  seat,  will  be  recognized 
at  once  by  many  people.  Most  of  his  characters  belong  to  this 
present  generation  —  Isaac  Erwin  Avery  among  them." —  Edito- 
rial in  Charlotte  Observer. 


m 


Memoir  or  Julia  Jackson  Christian 

Daughter  of  "  Stonewall "  Jackson,  by  M.  A.  Jackson 
(her  mother).  Charlotte,  N.  C.  Cloth,  50  cents, 
net. 

"Stonewall"  Jackson's  Daughter 

"This  is  an  interesting  and  pious  little  memorial  of  the  only 
child  of  '  Stonewall '  Jackson's  that  survived  infancy,  Julia  Jackson, 
afterward  Mrs.  Christian.  Julia  was  born  in  Charlotte,  N.  C, 
November  23rd,  1862,  while  her  illustrious  father  was  at  the 
front.  As  General  Jackson  never  left  the  army  on  furlough, 
his  little  daughter  was  four  months  old  before  he  saw  her,  when 
her  mother  took  her  to  his  camp,  then  at  Guiney's,  Va. 

"  The  brief  story  is  simply  but  tenderly  and  lovingly  written, 
and  it  should  be  valued  by  thousands  of  '  Confederate '  mothers 
and  daughters.  The  book  contains  a  number  of  interesting  let- 
ters and  much  information  concerning  Stonewall  Jackson  and  his 
home  life." —  Columbia  State. 

"  This  memorial  of  the  brief  life  of  Stonewall  Jackson's  only 
child,  written  by  the  great  soldier's  venerable  widow,  cannot 
fail  to  stir  the  heart  of  every  Southern  reader  to  whose  hands  it 
comes. 

"  It  is  written  with  the  same  purity  and  simplicity  of  style 
which  delighted  us  in  the  Life  of  Gen.  T.  J.  Jackson,  from  the 
same  pen. 

"  Even  if  we  did  not  know  her  for  a  hero's  daughter,  the  beau- 
tiful life  so  beautifully  told  in  this  dainty  volume  would  deeply 
interest  us.  But  when  we  realize  to  whose  intimacy  we  are  here 
admitted,  we  welcome  this  memoir  with  a  glow  of  grateful  en- 
thusiasm."—  Charlotte  Observer. 

"  This  book,  like  this  article,  is,  of  course,  intensely  personal. 
Mrs.  Jackson  has  simply  taken  the  people  whom  she  loves  into 
her  heart  and  told  them  a  simple  story  of  her  'holy  of  holies.' 
The  people  of  the  south  will  appreciate  the  confidence  and  love 
the   Story." — Raleigh  Times. 


I* 


